Some other people have mentioned hiring people defensively so they can't compete. I don't know how true that is, but if it is... then making a redundant project means you need to be retained so you don't write clones for anyone else.
It doesn't have to be the artists optimizing. It could be that everyone makes whatever they want but those who happen to make shorter songs are pushed up and those that make longer songs are pushed out.
As someone who was only briefly acquainted with the "buy ugly produce" idea in the first place and thought it sounded vaguely good. I never looked into actually taking action because I couldn't be bothered.
I do think they are being unkind and rude. There were too sides here the "scammers" and the clueless good people who got taken for a ride. Alienating the latter group is a mistake and will just make people avoid you because they will never be good enough for you anyway.
I on the other hand, feel vindicated in my apathy. "Trying to do good is a waste of time, the world is too ungrateful"
I'm always suspicious when people say something can be done. Why isn't it the default then? Because there is some drawback to that choice. But what is it?