As someone with the privilege to be at a company where no one expects I will ever be at a meeting under almost any circumstance, I will note that most engineers--including myself!! (though I've managed to negotiate everyone down to one meeting per QUARTER, which maybe honestly does feel like an acceptable balance? I still have to attend meetings once in a while, and have a big one scheduled tomorrow)--aren't in a position to simply NOT attend meetings without being seen as an uncommunicative obstacle who needs to be replaced/fired.