Robert Lily has made IMO valuable contributions to this list... his informed
opinions are as valid as anyone else's...

I to am an engineer... engineering depts. are often plagued with the NIH
syndrome... it is endemic... NIH = not invented here... If it is NIH  it is
prima fascia bogus... bogus is as bogus does...

I have witnessed obsolescence designed in... in some cases dissimilar metals
are in places that will cause eventual failure... it is obvious not
mysterious... engineers do not normally run the show it is the same MBA's
that do such good  work with HMO's... I am not a bigot there either I have
on of those pieces of paper too...