As one of the weary consultants on a multi-year software development project for a major lending institution I observed what became known as the Pakled-Customer Syndrome. The Pakleds are a race of dimwitted aliens from Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), which are first seen in the Samaritan Snare episode (summary here). They co-opt the technology of other spaceships through manipulation, brainless praise and hostage taking. Responding in good faith to the Pakled distress call the...