In many more cases, a great idea evolved progressively, often through a succession of more modest innovations or improvements, so that while the final product may be overtly better, its evolution was more gradual than punctuated.
Though punctuated-equilibrium theory as originally conceived has made few converts, the role of accidents in evolution is more widely appreciated, as asteroid collisions and nearby supernovae are recognised as hazards that can wipe out whole groups of organisms arbitrarily.