I once owned a house that gave me a lot of trouble.
It had "good bones," as they say, but was plagued with big problems accumulated over many years.
Some folks in that position would rather bulldoze it and rebuild; others decide to renovate.
Either way, it's hard work and expense.
But here's the thing:
Even if you bulldoze and rebuild, you can still accumulate problems over time.
Avoiding that will require a commitment to solid maintenance and management, in addition to whatever rebuild-or-renovate action you decide.
(I myself fought the good fight for a couple of years, then decided to let it be someone else's problem and sold it.)
This came to mind today when a prospective client sent me a long list of problems they're seeing with their CiviCRM installation.
They're trying to decide whether it's worth saving.
I sympathise, but of course can't decide for them.
My hope, as I told them, is that the organization will find a way forward that includes a plan for active maintenance and thoughtful system ownership.
Becuase any system -- like any house -- will accumulate problems without continual care and maintenance.
All the best,
A.