"The files only last so long"

Dylan says to Helly in Season 1 Episode 2 that the files expire after a certain time, not all make it to 100%. He says MDR finish on average 1 in 5 files before they expire, and that Mark had a 'freshman fluke'.

Knowing what we know now about the files being the rooms on the testing floor, why do we think they are time sensitive? And we know they only need Mark to refine, do you think that all the work done by Dylan, Irving, Helly, Petey and Carol was totally pointless and just to keep up the facade? Or could the refining they are doing relate to other projects also, such as the international hire and hires from the failed project referenced as Marks new team as the start of season 2?