This has given me much to think about. I'm going to test an idea on my current script: I have a "series of shots" that I believe convey story. I could be kidding myself. If I can strengthen the story (i) by removing the montage, and (ii) by incorporating the meaning into the scenes before and after, then the montage was a "cheat". My concern is that I might sacrifice pacing. Still, it's worth the experiment. Makes me wonder, are there any good montages ("good" would be conveying meaning while NOT primarily a cheat)?