> They're paying for people to design, tool, and maintain that design. It's economic investment in people and skills, not necessarily just the finished product.

Wrong - almost all of the profits go to the shareholders of those contractors. The people who are actually doing thew work do not get paid more.

Shit like this is the tip of the iceberg. [1]

[1] https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2022/11/22/why-cant-the-do...