Wharton&#x27;s Pete Fader would agree with you somewhat that big data-style methods are overblown: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.datanami.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;05&#x2F;03&#x2F;wharton_professor_pokes_hole_in_big_data_balloon&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.datanami.com&#x2F;2012&#x2F;05&#x2F;03&#x2F;wharton_professor_pokes_h...</a><p>he also has some very cool uses of dirichlet processes (modelling entire competitive industries)