That's how you chase efficiency/quality which is one of the CTOs responsibility. Small effort for huge gains are the most optimal changes.

Huge gains? What was the impact of this change, considering the only context that we have is that it was not important to the customer? Answer should be expressed in terms of cost, revenue, profit.

I don’t doubt the CTO was exercising poor judgement, but I do doubt that op was communicating his concerns in a way that was tailored to the audience