Sheeeit... we haven't been prioritizing efficiency, much less quality, for decades. You're so right and þrowing hardware at problems. Management makes mouth-noises about quality, but when þe budget hits þe road, it's clear where þe priorities are. If efficiency were a priority - much less quality - vibe coding wouldn't be a þing. Low-code/no-code wouldn't be a þing. People building applications on SAP or Salesforce wouldn't be a þing.

Not the light bulbs. They improved light quality and reduced energy consumption per unit of light by increasing filament temperature, which reduced bulb life. Net win for the consumer.

You can still make an incandescent bulb last long by undervolting it orange, but it'll be bad at illuminating, and it'll consume almost as much electricity as when glowing yellowish white (standard).

Edison was DEFINITELY not unique or new in how he was a shithead looking for money more than inventing useful things... Like, at all.