Observability is at a critical juncture as data volumes increase, with many leaders finding current tools inadequate and costly, leading to a decline in confidence despite rising budgets. A new report by Imply highlights that 62% of leaders spend over a quarter of their observability budget on a single platform, yet only 13% are satisfied with the cost-to-value ratio, with leaders often forced to filter or archive data to manage costs. Despite frustrations, there is hesitancy to abandon existing platforms due to familiar workflows, though 87% of leaders are exploring alternatives that offer better economics without sacrificing compatibility. The future of observability hinges on resolving the tension between cost and comprehensive data retention, prompting leaders to reconsider the architecture of observability to maintain resilience without compromising on speed or coverage.