One of the best ways to understand a system is not so much where it is but where it's going.

The best way to do that is to see where it's been.

How it's evolved from there to here; the forces that shape it.

The socio-techno forces that shape it, the archeology of the system.

That shows you a glimpse of its emergent animating logic, its throughline.

When you do it becomes easier to bet where its destiny will take it.