In the context of SAFe, architectural runway helps to:

Architectural runway is a foundational concept in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) that refers to the existing code, components, and architecture necessary to support the development of new features within a project. By maintaining a strong architectural runway, teams are able to ensure that the necessary technical infrastructure is in place, enabling the efficient and timely development of new features.

When the architectural runway is well-defined, it allows teams to quickly respond to changing requirements and smoothly integrate new features into the product. This promotes agility and supports the alignment of business objectives with technical capabilities. Thus, the correct answer highlights the role of architectural runway in facilitating a responsive and productive development process, which ultimately leads to faster delivery of new features to the customer.

The other options reflect potential misunderstandings of architectural practices. Delaying the development of new features would contradict the goal of having a well-established architectural runway. Similarly, undermining team confidence and minimizing customer feedback are not aligned with the objectives of SAFe, which emphasizes increased collaboration, responsiveness, and customer-centric development.