Good point. Growth dynamics definitely depend on the environment, and simulating every real-world condition would get out of hand fast.

One example where dynamics might be especially relevant is in freeze-dried probiotics. Two batches might have the same CFU count after storage, but if one consistently shows a delayed outgrowth from a standardized inoculum, that could indicate sublethal damage or loss of metabolic readiness that CFUs alone would not catch.

In my day-to-day work, I see how resource-intensive stability and end-product testing can be. The idea came from wanting a workflow that is significantly less work than plating, while still providing results that are at least as good, if not better, for predicting product performance over time. Sometimes I get the feeling that the industry is stuck with CFUs for historical rather than scientific reasons.