Your last two sentences really stood out. I don't have nearly as much experience as you do but I've seen the curious cycle of how software becomes so much more

Your last two sentences really stood out. I don't have nearly as much experience as you do but I've seen the curious cycle of how software becomes so much more than just a process from engineers. Sales, customers, managers, and engineers all seem to influence the software even when they are not supposed to (sales guy who promises the world but realizes we can't deliver or engineer who builds the world but realizes they can't sell). Developers are treated like robots. Mentally taxing labor like software development is not viewed in the same professional light as lawyers or doctors. The lowest cost seems to prevail and managers and business owners are always on the look out for reducing their overhead cost. Even the most generous and good hearted ex-engineer turned CEO has to view the engineers as a cost overhead. This is why unless a business has monopoly, it cannot invest in engineers, it is constantly looking for a turnover to maintain the low overhead. The last part really sickens me and especially when people cry why is it so hard to find developers? It's hard when you aren't willing to pay the true cost.