Not your question, but: &quot;cultural shift&quot; sounds like changing mainstream behaviour - which people don&#x27;t like to do. It seems to only happen indirectly, through smaller groups: firstly, people who just like the new idea for its own sake (not practical issues like whether it&#x27;s useful or reliable or value for money etc). Secondly, people who see new benefits from it, that give them a big advantage. Thirdly, people from the mainstream - but because they cautiously check with their friends and colleagues, it&#x27;s a small subgroup of the mainstream (e.g. in an industry, or geographical region, etc - provided people in that subgroup consult with each other). And then another subgroup, then another, til it becomes validated enough for the mainstream to switch as a whole.<p>But if no such route exists (idea-likers -&gt; 10x advantage see-ers -&gt; subgroup -&gt; subgroup -&gt; subgroup etc), then it <i>can&#x27;t</i> be adopted by the mainstream. Because when they check with their friends, no one has heard of it; not even anyone demonstrating how much advantage it gave them. And none of <i>them</i> will try getting a 10x advantage unless the idea in itself has been previously validated by idea-lovers.<p>On your question: I really emphasise with you, losing your hard work and sacrifices; I&#x27;d also want to get something from it, to not feel &quot;cheated&quot;. Two points: (1) be aware of the cost of spending <i>additional</i> work and sacrifices on a long drawn-out divorce; 
(2) do you really want a memento of this unpleasant breakup? Wouldn&#x27;t it be freeing to walk away, clean, without any of it hanging on to you?<p>I agree with the other comments about not burning your bridges. The real startup is your whole life, over decades. Do what will work out best in the long term, as if this was just a frustrating little bug in some minor component - that turned out to not be the best way to do that bit anyway.