> Is it arrogance if the task won't stick?

Yes. Because stick/not stick is "decided" by IT Engineer by excerpting leverage over someone who actually have decision making capability - a manager. And what it is "stick/non stick" in your perspective is just manager thinking how to make things work bypassing the annoying engineer.

> I would argue that developers probably know better what to do

Aaaand that's exactly where arrogance is. If developers "know better" why don't they become product owners/visioners?