Just read an interesting post on Scott Allen's blog, and the following go me thinking.... (http://odetocode.com/Blogs/scott/archive/2009/09/29/13248.aspx)

"The next time your user asks for something and your first impulse is to start assessing the risks involved – STOP.

Think about the possibilities first. Think about the value to the user. Could this request make the software great? If not, how could it be even better? What can you do in this area to empower the user? How can the software truly transform their job, or their business? What could you change about your technology to make this work? What could you change about your team to make this work? What could you change about your company to make this work? How many days would you really need to experiment with something new and different? Only after you understand the true potential of what is possible can you can put on your engineering hat and assess the risks.

We all work with limited resources and deadlines, but we often use these constraints as excuses instead of parameters in a formula for victory.

Only courage allows us to find the true potential of software. Only courage allows us to recognize our weaknesses and try something new. Only courage allows us to explore unfamiliar landscapes in the world of software development.Only courage will allow us to align our goals with the goals of the user, make our software great, and give us a shot at undisputed victory. "

This is a very good practice, and i agree completely except for one thing, users will and do ask for utterly rediculous things form time to time.