One nit, while I think Notion's data model is probably superior to that of Google Docs, I don't think their data model is what allowed them to succeed. Much stronger, I think, is their execution.
I would think their data model choice _is_ part of the execution?
Sure, like a transmission is part of a car. No car could work without one, and a bad one makes an otherwise good car bad. However, a great one can’t make an otherwise bad car good.
Exactly like Google docs couldn't be Notion because Google tried to build Microsoft Office online, but Notion tried to build lovable without AI and accidentally made a better Google doc.