This is not the viewpoint of the worker. Especially because it kind of put a political frame on it. I have implemented those cost reduction programs over and o

This is not the viewpoint of the worker. Especially because it kind of put a political frame on it. I have implemented those cost reduction programs over and over in many industries. I can assure you we always know it is gonna cost more than just doing things right. The problem is there is a lot of bad incentives, people saving their skins and and a whole industry making money out of those cost reduction programs. They are now permanent in many industries and became the standard way to manage those companies. I would agree with your two conclusions, this is the logical way it "should" go. Now reality is for most of the big players it probably won't go that way. For example I expect the hyperscalers to go the way telcos went. They have the power (financial, political & co) to freeze their position in the market and they are now a critical part of our infrastructure. But working for them or keeping their stock in the last 20 years was probably a very bad move.