> In the end, sometimes solutions look very similar but there is that one little bit that gives you a competitive advantage that no one else has.

I'm all for doing something "different" if it gives you some kind of core competitive advantage.

But the pain of being off the beaten path can really exceed small benefits you get in unexpected ways.

Save real innovation and risk for the things that are core, unique to you, and possible sources of large competitive leverage. Be boring elsewhere, maybe with an occasional small sprinkle of something clever mixed in. Evangelize the small bits of cleverness, in hopes that someone else will start maintaining it. ;)