If Physics acted like Magic does (i.e., anytime a significant amount of belief/understanding started to get made the rules would reset) humanity wouldn't make much progress. And if Chemistry acted that way say goodbye to anything even resembling MEDICINE. Needles to say I think Magic is being a huge d*ck and I hope we will get its reasons explained at some point, cause otherwise this plot point seems like the first real misstep in El Gonnish Shive to me. That being sad Dan as done good so far so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.