Draw the boundaries
Identify where execution takes place, which system settles disputes, and where users obtain the data required to verify state. These functions may belong to different networks with different operators.
Trace a failure
Ask what happens if one layer becomes unavailable. Can a user retrieve data, verify a claim, and exit? These questions turn a complex architecture into a set of testable dependencies.
Research beyond throughput
Performance is only one dimension. Upgrade authority, verification cost, operational complexity, and recovery paths determine whether a particular architecture fits a particular use case.