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Just like real debt. Want a new building now to get work done, not in 15 years when you have the capital? Take out debt, baby!

It's a tool, but a powerful and dangerous tool, and if you don't acknowledge you're using it and respect it, it'll hurt you. Or it'll hurt someone who accepts the grenade from you. Just like real debt.

And just like real debt, some tech debt has higher compounding effects than others. (Consider this fix cost and impact in the author's framework.)

Yep. Missing a deadline because your debt kicked off a death spiral is Jimmy the Facestabber coming looking for his vig at 25% a week and breaking your knees, gently pushing back some nice to have features next release while you deal with the debt is "only booked a 4 star hotel because the mortgage was paid first that month".

I've heard this called "tactical debt" instead of "technical debt".

Typically speed.