> can be miscontrued and made to seem like any old idea, well executed, will win

I completely agree. Though I guess it depends what you define as "well executed" if it's just executing the tech behind the idea, then it's likely you end up with something potentially technically very good but which nobody wants. If we define "well executed" as involving tech and also customer development, then I think executing a bad idea well must entail pivoting and therefore you actually could end up with a winner. What do you think?