“Had they been brave” for Sears means axing or disincentivizing their entire income stream of a nationwide chain of mega stores in malls, etc. It’s not that what you’re saying is wrong, it’s just that these scenarios don’t happen for a reason. They would have decimated their reliable revenue streams when the time was “right” and by the time it was too late, well… no money to invest as you’re closing stores and in the red.