Isn’t the survivorship bias he is referencing David using the companies that survived, Google etc…, to prove his point? What does that have to do with David’s own track record?
Yes, here's how I connect em. Sacks is one of those few metaphorical airplanes returning unshot from the front. Few, because all others who got downed are buried on a giant graveyard. If we say: "Let's imitate Sacks, check is track record," we're ignoring the others that haven't made it and Sacks' future blowup risk.