This is definitely a real challenge. No argument from me.
I think the niche where this product can thrive -- and its a huge niche -- is all those small-to-medium size businesses that have so far been running things through a hodge podge of unconnected spreadsheets, obsolete special-purpose applications, and lots and lots of paper.
It's easy as a programmer to more or less forget that most people, when facing a task or challenge, do not think: "I wonder what the most efficient way to do this might be, and if technology could help." Instead, it's: "What methods do I already know that I could apply to this problem?"
More often than not, the answer is paper. And email. Or excel.
So this type of the-database-is-everything app has huge value. Unfortunately it won't be run entirely by engineers with 10+ years of experience in what makes for good database best practice.
It's the trade-off we have to make.
In return, we get:
- A single system that has access to all of the business' data (rather than a dozen different "systems" [if they can be called that] which do not interoperate in any way, with endless duplication and data entry.
- Customization (for better and worse)
- Radically simplified I.T.: Just give everyone a chromebook and be done with it.
- Access to these systems anywhere in the world (cause it's web)
It's better than paying a bookkeeper to (literally) manage paper-based ledgers.