You're right, the anecdote doesn't really illustrate " 'out of the box' is a justification for slovenly, uncritical thinking", it's more an illustration of the importance of "understanding the box". But I did mention that in the past I would have characterized my solution as "out of the box". Guess it's just "slovenly, uncritical thinking" on my part!
I'm not sure why; now that you mention it, sorting is necessary only once. Unless you generate them in order as I did, then it's not necessary at all.

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Microsoft is over if you want it.

The bar has been lowered for the promotion of ATM ideas; the bar for the acceptance of ATM ideas must remain high.