What happens if a product isn't released after a Sprint?

When a product isn't released after a Sprint, the opportunity to capture user and market feedback is indeed lost. The primary purpose of a Sprint in Scrum is to deliver a potentially shippable product increment that can be assessed by stakeholders and users. If the increment is not released, the team misses the chance to validate assumptions, understand user needs, and gather insights on how the product is being received in the marketplace. This feedback is crucial for informing future development efforts and making necessary adjustments to the product roadmap or strategy. Without releasing the product, the learning and adaptation cycle intrinsic to Agile methodologies is hindered, which can lead to decisions being made without adequate information or input from actual users.