as bernard pointed out a while ago, the lack of a review of, and reference to, the [should be] known literature is notable in many classes of ietf work and an embarrassing number of internet drafts.
I think the expression that applies to parts of the IETF community is something like, instead of standing on the shoulders of those who have come before us, we stand on their toes....
Bob
p.s. I am not the originator of this phrase, but can't remember where I heard it first.