> Observeability, reliability, scalability - these are all words that are translated into either "someone else's problem" or "unproductive busywork" in their minds.

The root of the problem is the same reason why Google keeps creating completely brand new applications instead of just maintaining and improving their existing ones. Maintenance is not rewarded. Anything existing is not rewarded. Management only focuses on new customers brought in by new features or product asap. Management doesn't care about maintenance; they care about growth, so developers have no real interest in it. Words tend to be empty. If you want to see how maintenance is really valued, look at the company's promotion system.