> simply because the market has never really punished people for being less efficient at their jobs

In fact, it tends to be the opposite. You being more efficient just means you get "rewarded" with more work, typically without an appropriate increase in pay to match the additional work either.

Especially true in large, non-tech companies/bureaucratic enterprises where you are much better off not making waves, and being deliberately mediocre (assuming you're not a ladder climber and aren't trying to get promoted out of an IC role).

In a big team/org, your personal efficiency is irrelevant. The work can only move as fast as the slowest part of the system.