I'm not convinced. Boeing doesn't want more attention, depositions are stressful, and whistleblowers are predisposed to martyrdom. If you're Boeing, this doesn't make the problem go away, it makes it worse.
but what about some specific arbitrary high level figure from Boeing?
One which if the person says certain things might lose their job because of this or which is afraid to lose more then their job (e.g. due to them knowingly acting in gross negligence for personal gains).
My standard example is heroin, which is in the most severe rating category of illegal drug. In the UK, the number of users of just that drug on its own is close to triple the entire prison population.
Did you not realize that almost all crimes that have ever been committed, very much including by smart accomplished people with a lot to lose, violated and belied this theory of rational behavior?
what if they have bigger problems in the pipeline. It could estimated to be worth exacerbating this issue if it discourages the next.
So, an argument that this murder wouldn't be rational, gives me zero confidence that it didn't happen.
Yes, the MCAS design was defective. The crews didn't follow their training, either.
If there were foul play, the person who made the decision may not agree that this is worse for Boeing, or may not even care about what effect it has on Boeing at large. Being accused of something no one can prove might be greatly preferable to having specific evidence come to light, especially if the scrutiny will fall on a massive company instead of on you in particular.
The US also doesn't want Boeing carried through the mud.
Then there are those that stand to gain from added chaos.
Time may never tell, but let's not pretend people aren't motivated to do worse for less.