During my one year at Google, the problem with the most complaints by far on memegen is Android L's "safety lock," requiring an extra swipe up before entering the unlock code.

This is an edict from the design team, which engineering brainstorming cannot overcome. Furthermore, the majority of engineers cannot implement a solution even if they cared to try: they lack permission to access the development Android source repository.

Maybe it's different in other product areas, but from where I sit, the atmosphere you describe feels like a myth that Googlers tell each other, and not part of its culture today.