Pretty much my experience too. I don't think it's ever been worth the time or effort to spend time on writing quality software, the people that smash it out quickly are the ones rewarded.

I'm starting to feel like the whole movement for 'software craftsmanship' is making a lot of developers miserable. It's maybe better for them to realise they are not artisans, they are bricklayers. To focus that creative energy on their own projects rather than getting burnt out fighting their managers over writing 'good software'.