>It of course speeds up learning but other-hand some problems could be solve like hours instead of weeks.

The question is how many times these hours are spent.

If the project is due tomorrow, it's worth asking ten people for a few hours of their time. If it's not urgent, blocking those ten people for a few hours might lead to more work time being spent on the problem than you figuring it out.

I think there's a sweet spot in between asking too little and too much, and it's contextual.

Have to know the balance. Try three things, then ask the next person up the chain for a pointer.

Lately I've seen a strong tendency, where I work, to see people with less knowledge "up the chain". Is there only where I am. From your comment, seems to be different where you are. If I'm stuck with something, the LAST place where I search for answers is "up" in the hierarchy.

It's common everywhere larger than X people.

That's why bigger orgs are inefficient and need to acquire smaller companies to get stuff done.

Middle managers give the impression of doing something useful without actually being able to do much.