This was often true when writing code manually to be fair.

You could get to "something that works" rather fast but it took a long time to 1) evaluate other options (maybe before, maybe after), 2) refine it, 3) test it and build confidence around it.

I think your point stands but no one really knows where. The next year or so is going to be everyone trying to figure that out (this is also why we hear a lot of "we need to reinvent github")

When I hire fresh out of college… I can see them coming in and not having the slightest comprehension of the difference of the things that they did in school to get a grade and never touch it again versus a product that is supposed to exist and work for 10+ years.