It's physically impossible to convince non-technical managers (or technical managers too far removed from the code) that this is always a one-way decision that

It's physically impossible to convince non-technical managers (or technical managers too far removed from the code) that this is always a one-way decision that cannot ever be remediated. Inevitably, the codebase will corrode and decay until its Git repo becomes a superfund site and has to be fenced off with razor wire festooned with warning signs to keep the newbies away. "But they're cheaper!" "Just fix the bugs!" Etc... It's. Just. Not. Possible to convince anyone that it's not like hiring a recent immigrant to clean your yard. Sure, their English might not be so good, but they can hold a broom, right? No big deal! Worst case, if they miss a spot, you can just point to it and they'll fix it. The destruction of code quality is an invisible, insidious thing that can end billion-dollar companies while management whistles all the way to the bank collecting their bonus cheques for yet another awesome quarter.