Pros
Atomic Object does a great job of making those inside the cult-of-personality feel like they are an elite, unmatched team of software professionals. In many ways they are. AO understands their numbers and their process deeply and manages by them.
Kontras
Numbers and process are often venerated at the expense of the people who work there and many times their clients as well. AO's reputation for being cocky and dogmatic has left many clients cold. The culture from the inside is often worse still. Rumors, obscene jokes, sharp criticism, and senior managers who undermine employees to make themselves look better are the norm. Reading the blog at AO is a strange exercise as it often paints a picture of a place diametrically different from what it actually feels like inside. For example they pay lip service to being a female-friendly work place but in reality can be incredibly hostile. They speak of a culture of transparency and trust when opacity and suspicion are much more common. AO is definitely an example of do what we say, not what we do.