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Why Is GPT-5’s “Thinking Mode” Popular Despite Being Slow? ─ 6 Reasons It Creates the “Value of Waiting”

Laptop and steam

Why Do People Still Choose the “Slow” Option?

“Thinking Mode is slow.”
That’s the honest reaction many users have.

And yet, in real-world use cases, it remains the preferred choice—especially for writing long-form content, organizing specifications, and defining requirements.

This article breaks down the six key values that outweigh its slowness, and shows when to use it—and when to switch it off.

Main KW: Thinking Mode
(Sub KW: reasoning, accuracy, usage, requirements definition)

Quick Takeaways

  • Thinking Mode prioritizes quality over speed. It takes time to break down problems and minimize blind spots.
  • Its popularity comes from reproducibility and reliability. Even with complex requests, it delivers structured, consistent results.
  • Best suited for deep-thinking tasks. Requirements definition, specifications, survey design, or any complex writing.
  • Not ideal for speed-driven tasks. FAQs, quick summaries, or light rewrites are better handled in faster modes.
  • Waiting time becomes an investment. Provide clear purpose, assumptions, and evaluation criteria upfront for the best first draft.

Why Is It Slow? (A Different Design Philosophy)

  • Multi-step reasoning
    Requests are analyzed through objectives → constraints → evaluation axes → arrangements. This avoids short-sighted answers.

  • Exploring alternatives and pitfalls
    Instead of sticking to one plan, it considers other methods, counterexamples, and boundary conditions.

  • Focus on structured long-form writing
    Designing headlines, building argument flow, arranging bullet points—all add layers that enhance the reader’s experience.

The 6 Values That Outweigh Slowness

  1. Requirement Definition Strength
    Turns vague needs into concrete assumptions, constraints, and evaluation standards—reducing initial alignment costs.

  2. Leak Prevention
    Easily enumerates exceptions and edge cases, avoiding expensive rework later.

  3. Consistency of Logic
    Keeps long texts structured and coherent, with stable flow between headings and paragraphs.

  4. Instruction Tolerance
    Even rough prompts are interpreted correctly—output often needs only light revision to become usable.

  5. Better Explainability
    Summarizes the reasoning process, making reviews and consensus building faster.

  6. Reusable Outputs
    Excels at creating templates, checklists, and chapters—perfect for standard documentation.

Where It Truly Shines

  • Writing specifications, requirements, and meeting minutes
  • Designing surveys and validation procedures
  • Planning blog series, white papers, and landing pages
  • Organizing ideas before code design and implementation
  • Risk identification and checklist creation
  • Drafting first proposals or external documents where failure is not an option

When to Switch It Off

  • Quick edits: Light rephrasing, tone adjustments, or short summaries
  • Canned responses: FAQs, quick Q&A, or emails
  • Speed-first needs: Chats, brainstorming, or rapid replies
  • Simple tasks: Basic calculations or schedule confirmations

👉 The rule of thumb: Ask yourself—“Is this worth deep thinking?”

Prompting Tips: How to Maximize the “Value of Waiting”

  • Define objective → deliverables → evaluation criteria → constraints upfront
  • Provide sectioned inputs (assumptions, current state, constraints, audience)
  • Specify output format (e.g., 1) Summary 2) Background 3) Conclusion 4) Rationale 5) Next Action)
  • Instruct it to include objections, weaknesses, and alternatives
  • Ask for a questioning phase before final writing, if premises are unclear

Example Templates That Work in Practice

1. Summary

  • One-line purpose of the document
  • Target readers and usage scenario
  • Deliverables and goals in 3–4 lines

2. Background & Purpose

Background

  • Current challenges (e.g., rising costs, user dissatisfaction)
  • Links to business strategy or related projects

Purpose

  • Problems to solve in this requirement definition
  • Expected results (e.g., efficiency, satisfaction, risk reduction)

3. Requirements (Functional & Non-functional)

  • Functional: List of features, prioritized as must-have / recommended / future
  • Non-functional: Performance, security, scalability, and maintainability

4. Risks & Countermeasures

  • Technical risks: Compatibility issues → Run PoCs, phased rollouts
  • Operational risks: Poor adoption → Training, manuals, transition periods
  • Cost & schedule risks: Budget overruns → Milestone control, outsourcing

5. Alternatives & Trade-offs

  • Proposal A: Retrofit existing system (low cost, but limited scalability)
  • Proposal B: New system (scalable, but high upfront cost)
  • Proposal C: Hybrid (risk spread, but more complex management)

6. Next Decisions

  • Budget approval
  • Requirement prioritization
  • Implementation roadmap
  • Responsible department/person
  • External partner selection (if needed)

Best Practices for Workflow Integration

  • Dual use is best: Use lightweight mode for drafts, Thinking Mode for the final version
  • Thinking Mode for the first draft: Reduces proofreading and rework overall
  • Align on evaluation criteria upfront: Define what “good documentation” means for your team

Common Misconceptions

  • Slow ≠ inefficient. Preventing rework lowers total costs.
  • Thinking Mode ≠ solo tool. It’s strongest when paired with faster modes.
  • Longer ≠ better. Structure and clarity matter more than length.

Final Thoughts: Focus on Consensus Costs, Not Seconds

The true value of Thinking Mode isn’t in the seconds it takes to respond.
It lies in avoiding costly rework, miscommunication, and poor documentation.

For high-stakes tasks like requirement definitions or external proposals,
waiting a little is the smartest investment you can make.

That’s why, despite being “slow,” Thinking Mode remains so popular.

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