I have come to think that the reason why people are prepared to accept AI slop is because the software industry was so blase about quality. They already had slop, now they get it cheaper.

AI is the fentanyl to JavaScript bootcamp heroin.

You're giving the system too much credit. The users and the SWEs don't get a choice in this, they eat whatever the thought leaders and PMs spec out. They are the ones who make the decisions, you can either get on board or look for a new job.

There isn't an actual diverse ecosystem of most consumer software, just a monoculture of largely undifferentiated clones.