> So I think they have an indirect responsibility of promoting this culture.

Interesting comparison to compare the "standard" software fraudulence of fudging your activity numbers to Theranos' fraud.

I think when it comes down to it, it's a false equivalence - one is a temporary measure done to overcome an inherently short-term critical mass limitation, the second is an indefinite fraud trying to paint an impossible company as real.

"Fake it till you make it" is a legitimate and almost necessary strategy for an early-stage startup, I wouldn't conflate it with Theranos' fraud.

Theranos faked it, the difference is that they never had any intention of making it.

I think that's what you're saying, at least.