> Ever since the first programming language the goal was to make the work easier

The historical evidence disagrees. The point of software is automation and the point of automation is elimination of labor by any means. Nowhere in that is easier.

Clearly developers have forgotten what automation is because the quest for easier satisfies the narcissism of people who lack the ability to see otherwise.

> Some folks don't care much at all about how things work, just that they can shove a thing out the door and get paid with minimal effort. Sometimes their boss is completely in agreement

The issue is not the quality per se (I can write hacky things if that’s needed). The issue is when you become responsible for the shoddy things that were rushed and is now hacks on pile of hacks.