The alternative isn't that different however. A company running its own centre may choose to go OpenStack/k8s. It still requires lots of messing about with awfu

The alternative isn't that different however. A company running its own centre may choose to go OpenStack/k8s. It still requires lots of messing about with awful files. The 'cost' then shifts elsewhere, and merely satisfies bean counters. IMO the simplicity promised does exist, it's up to the company how it gets implemented. Like either toolstack, if it's misused, it will cost more than they thought (and then they'll blame the toolstack)