Reply #140: You're probably safe, but here's where the problem comes in...

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The problem comes in when a company says--you know what? Forget quality. We'd make more branding our product well and selling junk. This is the biggest issue I think. It sounds like you're in one of those rare industries where it's important not to make junk. But trust me, for most people their craftsmanship is replaced with the making of junk.

It's even an issue at universities. It doesn't matter whether your teaching is good or your work is innovative. Will you win awards for the university from organizations that perpetuate the status quo? Will you teach the maximum number of students for the minimum amount of money? You're under pressure to create courses that are students will like: not too difficult, contemporary, snappy new ideas. The problem is in order to get to point B sometimes you need to get to the very humdrum point A. And talking about "A"s that's what the students want, if they don't think they can get an A, they'll drop the course. So it's difficult to really teach something of quality, something outside the normal difficulties, or even something really important because everyone is concerned with making the most money and getting what they pay for.

You're really lucky. Sounds like a great job.