> Code never was and never should have been the product in and of itself

Except that the code completely and precisely defines the actual product. Bad code => bad product.

> code should be sacred and revered by itself

As a production of the hand and mind, code should be revered - if only as the mark of the human or groups of humans that made it.

> the wrong group of people

The group of people who care deeply about the world around them.