Customers have repeatedly and historically valued features over quality (for most niches). If somebody finds a magic formula to have both for a good price, this

Customers have repeatedly and historically valued features over quality (for most niches). If somebody finds a magic formula to have both for a good price, this may change. But so far it hasn't proved consistently possible. I will agree that a well-trained and well-coordinated set of individual software builders can occasionally pull it off economically, but it requires too many things to go right in terms of organization and staff: a lucky accident. Most IT shops are semi-dysfunctional because the usual frailness of human nature wins out over rationality the majority of the time. Dilbert™ is life, life is Dilbert™.