Comment by silentbicycle

So in a roundabout way, we're back to...design-driven design?

Writing a README early on (and figuring out your general project scope, etc.) is a good idea, sure. Fundamentally, though, it sounds like he's just saying that a Software Engineering Methodology(TM) is no replacement for common sense.

When people attempt to formalize (and, often, brand & market) common sense, it tends to substitute checklists for thought.