I'm surprised they didn't consider beta testing the feature with a subset of users to see how it'd go first.
I don't have any inside information but it seems that this could also be a case of the downsides of deadlines. They set a deadline and then all other considerations go out the window when trying to meet that.
Having said that, "sprint" is not a word I associate with thoughtful progress toward a reasonable goal. What it does say is "rush forward in a heedless manner" and "don't think, just run."
Another artificial deadline dressed up with terminology that encourages plunging ahead without due consideration.
golf clap
(One of the 2,000+)