Theory 192/Standards adoption/Ratio lens
Lock-In Is Benefit Against Switching
The claim
Lock-in persists while the ratio of switching cost to benefit exceeds one, so a small improvement cannot dislodge an entrenched standard.
01Mechanism
Users weigh conversion cost against gain; the ratio determines whether adoption is rational.
02Prediction
Switching should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Switching tracking benefit alone would remove cost.