But that's my point, the software developer is not a crucial role in the research process (unlike (most) professors arguably), they are nice to have and definit

But that's my point, the software developer is not a crucial role in the research process (unlike (most) professors arguably), they are nice to have and definitely helpful, but getting a grant to do research is difficult enough, paying all the funds to a software developer means no research gets done. In other words in most cases a software developer does not add enough value to justify their cost if they get paid like in industry. I was not complaining about developers being too expensive, I was responding to people who said that they would like to work as a RSE but salaries are too low and explaining why the salaries are so low.