Why is it important to minimize differences between sandboxes?

Minimizing differences between sandboxes is crucial in a development environment because it facilitates smoother development and integration. When sandboxes have consistent configurations, data, and environmental settings, developers can work more efficiently without needing to deal with unexpected issues that arise from differences between environments. This consistency helps ensure that code and features developed in one sandbox will perform as expected when moved to another, such as a staging or production environment. Moreover, it simplifies the process of merging changes and reduces integration challenges, leading to a streamlined workflow and ultimately a faster and more reliable release process.