Good point! I think you're right.

So currently there are two narrowly defined options for career progression:

* technical leadership on core project/domain

* engineering management

Perhaps instead of eliminating the depth option for the technical track and making the T shaped depth/breath mandatory, just make it an additional option to provide an additional track for people to take for career progression.

* deep technical leadership on core project/domain

* broad-based technical leadership on core project/domain and supporting role on multiple projects

* engineering management