The ability to read and quickly understand code (i.e. cognitive load) has always been more of a time sink than writing code.

This is especially true when poorly designed/written code is part of the hot path in the application because each team member has to constantly re-read and decipher each time. This is a major, reoccurring, company expense:

<engineers> * <time to understand> * <each revisit of same code path> = <reoccurring cost>

Related: https://simonwillison.net/2026/Mar/25/thoughts-on-slowing-the-fuck-down/