> but it can take implementing virtually the entire thing to get your head straight.

Seems to fit your needs then!

Well, the developer didn't need it in the first place. It is not a useful tool for developers as we have better tools for developers. It is management that wants to see the work up in pretty JIRA lights and they want to see it before the project is already done.

That's how agile should be done. You should plan out the things that you are doing short-term in more detail and the things you are doing long-term in less detail because you don't know as much about it and it is more likely to change.