One team's success is another team's "challenge"

I've deleted most of the body of this post, as it was too detailed and might have come across as a rant.

Here is the essence of what I want to express, feel free to wave your hands around in the gesticulation style of your choosing...

Team A shouldn't talk to Team B about their problems handling an accumulated issue with Team C's kit.  (I'll categorise my position as being in Team D in this scenario).

The keywords from the longer version include: evolving technologies, neglected maintenance, versioning of software, Chinese whispers, rumours, this is why we can't have nice things.