What if you just looked at it as a cost for employee satisfaction? If I ask my boss for a license to try a new tool, or something to make my workflow better, i

What if you just looked at it as a cost for employee satisfaction? If I ask my boss for a license to try a new tool, or something to make my workflow better, it's a win for the company if it works out. If it doesn't work out, it's a win for my morale, because I don't have a skinflint of a boss. When a manager evaluates what is "essential", it creates a dynamic where they either agree with me (which wastes both our time), or they disagree (which creates conflict). For $10/year, it's better to avoid the conflict and just buy the stupid tool that makes the ICs life better.