This plan didn't succeed because the original was sufficient. Sufficient is an important word. It explains a great deal of the failure of Betamax, rotary engines and rubber-coated paper clips. The existing solution was adequate for the needs of the users and the upstart competition could present no compelling reason to switch. Henry Petroski of Duke University presented these and other ideas regarding technology markets and product adoption on PBS recently.
Mainframes tell a different story.
When the PC came to town, it didn't present a compelling reason to stop using mainframes. Rather, it suggested solutions for entirely new classes of problems. Only later did PCs develop into an alternative to mainframe class applications. The entire industry turned around and many fortunes were lost and found within the last decade because the PC looked like a cool tool to use on problems that languished prior to its introduction. Giving credit where it's due, s ome applications, such as telecommuting, have expanded.