I'm not sure I'd be quite so blunt, but I do agree with your argument in the main: this is so low on the list of priorities that I can't help but wonder if some

I'm not sure I'd be quite so blunt, but I do agree with your argument in the main: this is so low on the list of priorities that I can't help but wonder if someone at Trivago thinks they've run out of any actual revenue-generating development work. It indicates to me that either the inmates are running the asylum - that devs are being given too much leeway to pursue personal interests - or (and?) that Trivago's day to day work is proving so dull that developers in some teams are inventing R&D work just to stay sane.