EDIT: Summary: it is a tragedy of the commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons). The

EDIT: Summary: it is a tragedy of the commons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons). The value added of using less RAM for a single application that you develop is close to zero, so people don't do it; if all other apps on that computer use hundreds of MB to several of RAM, your reduction from 100 MB to 5 MB is insignificant for the overall system. When everyone thinks the same, you just buy another 16 GB of RAM and everyone's messy app will fit. Developers know RAM is cheap, but don't calculate the result of cheap multiplied by millions (not cheap at all). The only 2 times developers think about RAM consumption is when they design an application and set a target and then when they go to testing and exceed the target, so they need to reduce it enough to pass. If the design review allows them to set a relatively high target, they don't have to care at all.