It takes a lot to deliver value at velocity with a team of engineers that couldn't give a damn about the product and just want to get a paycheck, move up the ladder, etc.

LinkedIn is not a fun problem.

The UI, the design, the dark patterns - all of it sucks.

It's a job. Nobody particularly wants to be there. There's nothing sacred about the product. Engineers don't worship it.

It isn't a place you'd take a pay cut for the opportunity to work there.

Hence the bloat.