I see 1) quite a bit, and notice that I'm guilty of it as well. I think it applies copiously to both product and code decisions and I always wonder why that is.

I see 1) quite a bit, and notice that I'm guilty of it as well. I think it applies copiously to both product and code decisions and I always wonder why that is. I think it fundamentally boils down to insecurity - only by convincing yourself that your decisions are the correct ones, even if it's given the generous advantage of hindsight, can you be assured that you're as valuable as the people who made the initial ones.