Those metrics are in fact routinely gamed by well-meaning PMs whose (perceived) compensation is affected by those numbers, with UX-dubious features like unneces

Those metrics are in fact routinely gamed by well-meaning PMs whose (perceived) compensation is affected by those numbers, with UX-dubious features like unnecessary and disruptive notifications, highly discounted introductory promotional periods that most users churn out of, and so on. Hence the adage: the most effective way to take a useful metric for measuring progress towards a goal and make it useless, is to make the metric the goal.