Overdriven pulley how much is too much?

I disagree, a theory is just that, a supposition to be proven or disproven.
I learned many theories, and learned they are merely guidelines to start a search, to be used in the environment I have to work in, to be modified as the need arises.
The end result of a theory can be vastly different than the origin.

Depends on what's called theory. The laws of thermodynamics are pretty solid, and when checked in reality they're always true. Theorizing that the moon is actually cheese is an entirely different topic, LOL.