> My general perception is most of these people it's not that they are "not smart" it's that they figured out other people will do the work for them. "Weaponiz

> My general perception is most of these people it's not that they are "not smart" it's that they figured out other people will do the work for them. "Weaponized incompetence" is the term, I think. But I've worked with people who match the description OP is providing. I don't think they're Machiavellian geniuses. Some of them I felt bad for - maybe with more guidance than I could provide, they could shape up to become better engineers. Some, just felt like they were not mentally equipped to ever be able to write software.