Yes, it actually totally makes sense, but the issue is that if one draws the mental picture the wrong way the first time (and is left uncorrected), it's equally easy to draw the mental picture (i.e. of commits "flying around" from one branch to another) in the other direction too. That's what bit me

I don't even know how to check for mistakes here with my current employer (god speed to the code I wrote at my previous jobs). Unlike a merge, a rebase leaves no trace except in the reflog :(