In this case you're merely using history to make a relevant choice about the future. You're not honoring the sunk cost because of the investment, you're just using the lessons your learnt while making this investment.
You are basically just playing with the words, but you also seem to contradict yourself:
> you're just using the lessons your learnt while making this investment
That's exactly what honoring sunk costs mean. Making the investment means the cost factor. And using the lessons your learnt means honoring.
