I work with architects (building not software) that pull similarly long hours (and not great salaries) and when I point out that it sounds like a mix of poor planning, a poor deal with the client, or project management / process issues it's always shot down as being a 'part of their culture' that they've gone through since university.

My counterargument is that 'culture' isn't fixed and there's no reason not to strive for better and give people a chance to have lives outside work.