In my career I've only met maybe 1 or 2 managers who were actually very good at their jobs and would be willing to stand on principle rather than crumble at the

In my career I've only met maybe 1 or 2 managers who were actually very good at their jobs and would be willing to stand on principle rather than crumble at the first sign of pressure from higher up. Most managers are just not very good in general. And as your example illustrates those that are very good tend to end up going elsewhere, because why bother putting up with bullshit when you have the talent to avoid it?