It’s true that you can only have about ten double-digit increases towards a set limit, but growth percentages are usually expressed as the percent added to a previous total. Thus if my rock show is half again as loud as last year’s, I’ve managed a 50% increase… and a total volume of 150% (of last year’s volume). Clearly I can only make 100% as much noise right now as I’m making right now, but that doesn’t prevent me from adding more to it in the future (relative increase), as long as I don’t blow up my amp or break the noise ordinance (absolute limit).

None of this invalidates your larger point, and it goes a long way towards pointing out, as you’re doing, the difference between limited and infinite growth.

It’s true that you can only have about ten double-digit increases towards a set limit, but growth percentages are usually expressed as the percent added to a previous total. Thus if my rock show is half again as loud as last year’s, I’ve managed a 50% increase… and a total volume of 150% (of last year’s volume). Clearly I can only make 100% as much noise right now as I’m making right now, but that doesn’t prevent me from adding more to it in the future (relative increase), as long as I don’t blow up my amp or break the noise ordinance (absolute limit).

None of this invalidates your larger point, and it goes a long way towards pointing out, as you’re doing, the difference between limited and infinite growth.