i think in addition to what you say, there are probably also the issues of just running a business... new releases need new features → bloat managers need pro

i think in addition to what you say, there are probably also the issues of just running a business... new releases need new features → bloat managers need promotions → hire more devs → more bloat devs need promotions/evaluations → refactorings/abstractions → extra bloat corporate dictums/strategies (add .net this and that) → bloat city people leave → knowledge is lost → old code gets worked around/stuck → bloat --- just a crazy supposition, but i'd guess programs/apps that stay under the radar stay small and maintainable, programs and apps that are popular suffer from a smothering of resources/people that inevitably bloat it up (just look at itunes for another example)