Nah its not even always about profit, sometimes its just pure sloppy showoff like a page where I am supposed to sign up should not be promoting the company, if Ive already got onto that page why do I need to scroll all the way down to the join/sign up button!

IME it is more devs and managers going wild on the “golly gee wiz” features that are meant to dazzle site visitors, rather than on actual content (or to obscure a lack of actual material content).

Sure, what you mentioned is a problem, and a serious one at that. But your issue arises more from marketers and bean counters and C-Suite execs than devs and managers.