Unfortunately most non-{architect, principal} engineers have little say over the structure of existing data, and often no ability to change it. They are given A

Unfortunately most non-{architect, principal} engineers have little say over the structure of existing data, and often no ability to change it. They are given APIs (controlled by teams they aren't allowed to talk to) and requirements (that they aren't allowed to question or modify) and have to crank through tickets. This seems like a massive waste but in theory it's because, while things take much longer and end up much worse this way, they are at least predictable and resilient to any one engineer quitting. Even if not, the people writing the checks think this, so that's what gets done.