The real number of Bitcoin, 20999999.9769, differs from the so-called 21 million by 0.0231, or 2.31 million satoshis.
The total mining output of Bitcoin in the last three mining cycles, from 2128 to 2140, for a total of 12 years, is: 0.0084+0.0042+0.0021=0.0147, which is much less than 0.0231.
If: the total output of Bitcoin in the last three mining cycles + the sum of the output of the third mining cycle from the end is:
0.0084+0.0042+0.0021+0.0084=0.0231 (just equal to 0.0231)
In other words, the number of 21 million makes Bitcoin produce 12 years + 4 years out of thin air, a total of about 16 years of Bitcoin output.
Bitcoin has only been around for 15 years and 3 months.
So can 0.0231 really be ignored? Can it really come out of thin air?