Early-stage theories

This is actually more like science than TLB says. If you've been working on something for a few months and you haven't published or at least given a talk about it somewhere, one of two things is probably true:

a) You're a reclusive genius dedicating your life to solving in secrecy a problem many hundreds of years old; or

b) You're afraid to find out that what you've been working on was stupid.

Guess which one is more likely?

great read, I just note that this particular Wright story is pure technology, so they could experiment on remote hilltops (i.e. without market feedback).

I totally agree that experimentation can lead you to insights that no one else has had - that no one else can have without it, but which are plain once you've played with a prototype. It doesn't mean you're more perspicacious, it's just that standing on a hill, it's easy to see more. Climb a few hills that no one else has, and you have a unique perspective.

In the post it says "It's the sort of startup we like at Y Combinator: technologically disruptive with a good chance of cashing in."

I can't think of many technologically disruptive YC start-ups off the top of my head to be honest.

the wright brother quote and perspective was awesome to read. the analogy to posterous made me do a double take. what is the equivalent paragraph about the "hard problem" that others have ignored that only posterous is or was experimenting with?

ps - the list of questions is cool.

edit: wait is "email" the answer? the comparison to flying machines still blows my mind. eit.

Seems like that list of 8 things should be taped on the bathroom mirror of every aspiring web entrepreneur.