> O(n) companies can't afford to hire the absolute best talent. [...]

> O(n^2) companies hire high agency people. [...] People are generally given a lot of equity to join and as a reward.

O(n^2) is often a matter of ZIRP-VC-powered artificial-growth (e.g., their example of Uber). That also includes hiring a large quantity of people.

For factors in genuine O(n^2) growth, you might be onto something: with structuring culture to leverage employee agency, and for using meaningful equity to help align employees with business success.