Yes, this is how engineering works. They calibrate their equipment's altitude and flight pattern predictions, then modify the equipment to vent at the target altitude (both the balloon gas, to arrest ascent, and the cloud chamber, to disperse the chemical), then test to make sure their modifications are working correctly. Then they finalize that design and enter into production of a calibrated device whose target altitude they can be confident of hitting.
I'm not sure they're trying to impress you, but they have a feedback form if you want to let them know.
That's not how engineering works. But what do you expect from someone with a Bachelor of Science from Wharton Business school and no education in anything engineering related?
Do you have a form founders can fill out to make sure their credentials meet your approval before they get too far down the startup pipeline? I'd hate to see anyone miss out on criticism as helpful and as insightful as this.
In case I were a VC, or Angel investor, I would have. And right on top of said list would be, when we talk about hardware, proper engineering education. And ideally experience.
Funny, how due dilligence seems to have gone right out of the window in the last couple of years, only to be replaced by having the right connections.
I'm not sure they're trying to impress you, but they have a feedback form if you want to let them know.