These days, when reading scientific articles and listening to lectures related to hydrology, it does not seem possible (except in a few cases) to escape from two things: (1) more and more complex models, whether 'physically based' or 'black-box' or other and (2) conclusions that typically read: 'more data and computational power are needed to obtain more reliable results'. The second one is particularly interesting (especially in light of the first), since it may not be very different from what we used to say/hear 40 or so years ago in the age of 'punch-cards' and 'manual' raingages (the latter used in many countries even today). If our conclusion today, even with our 'super' computers, 'remote' sensors, and 'geographic' information systems (GIS), remained more or less the same as that of 40 years ago, I wonder if it would still be the same or different 40 years from now when we will possibly have 'super-super' computers, 'remote-remote' sensors, and even 'universal' information systems (UIS)! When, and how, will this situation change? This Commentary is intended to shed some light on this question, especially addressing two major (yet closely related) issues in our current modelling practice: (1) development of more and more complex models and (2) comparison of different models. I am aware that I am not the first person to write on this subject, for these issues have been discussed and debated in the literature in many different forms. My intent herein, however, is to convey and communicate some thoughts on these themes in a more cohesive and understandable (and hopefully, entertaining!) manner than has been done thus far and to remind us again of the urgency to rise above the precarious situation we have put ourselves in. I also offer some suggestions for the future.