Might a Small Inconvenience Protect a System from a Larger Failure?
Not all friction is waste.
Sometimes. Certain inconveniences act as safeguards against larger risks.
A traveler spends an extra minute confirming a booking before payment. The process feels slightly slower.
The hidden mechanism is protective friction. Some systems deliberately introduce small delays, checks, or requirements to reduce costly mistakes.
People often evaluate friction by its immediate cost rather than by the failures it prevents.
The fastest process is not always the safest process. Sometimes a pause is part of the protection.
