Yes, overall the approach of adding ducks smells pretty passive-agressive. In an ideal world I suppose the "duck-adders" should have enough authority to push b

Yes, overall the approach of adding ducks smells pretty passive-agressive. In an ideal world I suppose the "duck-adders" should have enough authority to push back on questionable changes. It is unfortunate that so many people identify with the need for these tactics. I wonder if the "nit-pickers" in authority are just randomly distributed, and we only see the bad instances (i.e. there is no particular selective pressure on them). Or if we're seeing another manifestation of the Peter Principle of those in authority. Or if the duck adders are somehow self-selecting to be in a position of avoiding responsibility by not being assertive enough?