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I don’t think that’s the case at all. He was telling you that they spent a lot of time on the trashcan, knowing that sounds a little ridiculous. That’s where the humour was, not in the designers at Apple not actually caring about the trashcan. It was certainly not set up as an ironic statement in any way.

If Apple didn’t really spend a lot of time on the trashcan then he was just dishonest, but not saying something in jest.

I think there was humor in it, but it was humor in him being aware that it is objectively weird to spend a lot of time on something as trivial as a trash can icon. But in the context of Apple's history, it is a testament to their attention to detail.

I have no doubt that they did spend what most companies would consider a ridiculous amount of time on it. And that's why it's funny.

The delivery of the comment was jovial in nature, but I do believe him that the team spent considerable time refining the trash can until they were satisfied with its look.

For some reason this trash can icon reminds me of the Zyme vials in Deus Ex.