Absolutely nailed it. This is exactly what it is.
It definitely does feel a lot more common on the west coast than the east coast (I'm in the west). I love a lot of people on the west coast, but it can be refreshing sometimes working with east coast people :-)
If the message isn't clear then they don't hear it, with the only reason you don't so that you can say you said something when shtf all while ignoring that your indirect statement effectively ensured the continuation of the problems...
Blunt honesty is the only way to effectively and efficiently run an enterprise.
We really need to address this culture of Feeling Over Facts...