Let me start by saying that I do believe that Story Points are if not one of the best ways to provide high-level project estimates. However, in my experience the usage of Story Points and their underlying benefits are greatly misunderstood, which affects their usefulness and reputation. 1. Story Points are for HIGH-level project estimates. In the past, during the waterfall era, projects were analysed, estimated, and planned upfront using time-based estimates and presented using Gantt charts.