The premise
System projects create a useful feedback loop between architectural decisions and observable behavior.
Working through it
A distributed workflow can be evaluated through failures, latency, recovery, and user comprehension. A sandbox can be evaluated by its policy boundaries and reproducibility. Those properties make projects more than demos; they make them useful material for research and discussion.
Current takeaway
The aim is not complexity for its own sake. It is building a narrow system with a clear question and enough surface area to answer it honestly.