What I think @GrahamWills is saying (and I'm inclined to agree with him, so maybe it's easier for me to see it) is this:
There are TRPG scenarios in which a dead end (you don't see/hear/find/learn anything useful/interesting) is acceptable/expected.
Apocalypse World is designed not to generate dead ends.
Apocalypse World is incompatible with scenarios with dead ends.
If you're running Apocalypse World, don't run scenarios where you need/want dead ends; if you want to run scenarios with dead ends, don't run Apocalypse World.
@pemerton I don't think that's incompatible with what you're saying, but I don't always understand you as well as I would prefer.
There are TRPG scenarios in which a dead end (you don't see/hear/find/learn anything useful/interesting) is acceptable/expected.
Apocalypse World is designed not to generate dead ends.
Apocalypse World is incompatible with scenarios with dead ends.
If you're running Apocalypse World, don't run scenarios where you need/want dead ends; if you want to run scenarios with dead ends, don't run Apocalypse World.
@pemerton I don't think that's incompatible with what you're saying, but I don't always understand you as well as I would prefer.