Any long-term system that can withstand the test of time will eventually reach a point—when you no longer have a second chance. Because these systems have already accumulated true value.

At this point, a completely different approach is needed to protect them.

For example, some protocols do things quite differently. They split data objects into multiple shards, then use erasure coding techniques to disperse these shards across different nodes in the network. The key point is— as long as 60% to 70% of the shards remain intact, you can fully restore the entire object.

It sounds simple, but there's an easily overlooked detail: this is not as simple as "making a few more backups." It’s a structural design that inherently resists damage.

How important is understanding this difference? The former is insurance; the latter is fundamental. One hopes bad things don’t happen, the other ensures you won’t die even if they do.

The core of long-termism is not about how comfortable you are now, but about ensuring you can survive in the future.