In my experience it can be hard for some developers to link their craft with the larger business. Some times helping them understand how the money side of the b

In my experience it can be hard for some developers to link their craft with the larger business. Some times helping them understand how the money side of the business works, helps them to understand that the choices they are making are not being done in a vacuum. Especially if you can show them how, a longer development duration can seriously and adversely affect the company. Now where most developers will rightfully get perturbed is when managers want it done fast and don't want to cut or simplify the feature set. You look like you are doing just that, so given your side of the story I would lean to side with you. The other thing to remind them is that you guys can go back and improve those areas once the crunch is over, just live up to your word and support them going back to fix it afterwards. Constant crisis mode sucks and if a developer cannot double back and clean up some unsavory bits that are going to become frustrated as the technical debt grows. Make sure you pay it down.