It likely just isn't a concern for them. Just as making page loads lightweight isn't a concern for most press-like organizations that prefer to serve megabytes of script, pictures and ads across dozens of requests.
Bloat and inefficiency is the way it goes in this industry, and these companies are too big to care if tedu doesn't like the way the cycles are wasted. Solo developers may have different priorities.
I remember well the anecdotes of working for Steve Jobs. Devs sitting through an entire weekend just to make the transition for switching between menu's precise to the millisecond. This one is slightly hyperbole, but the point is standards.
It's no coincidence the ipod is the most famous music player in history ever.
Devs might see the issues with the code, but as you say, a lot off people in high places give 0 shits.
I've had this happen myself at many companies I worked with. I found a way to be more efficient and u get false promises of it being adressed in the future or your advice gets ignored, or dismissed as a waste off time.
At worst u become the know-it-all who "can't let things go". Fun times..
While there are many inexperienced devs. A devs work is only as good as the standards of it's "captain".
Do what I do. Don't ask them for the extra time. Make it a challenge for yourself to create the better solution in the allotted time budget. Or make it a side project (10-20% time).
I may be becoming too cynical or slightly old but I don't care if the businessmen are smart enough to recognize a good investment in quality. I am not interested in educating bean counters. I simply don't ask them and I leave them no choice. I invest in a future where I won't be cursing myself or them. They never know it and we're all better off.
There are dozen off indy software freely made free of charge that can easy and efficiently cache music as per my apple store reference.
You say multi million dollar spotify company can't find 1 dev to make it good?
I mean perhaps it is true as well, but it feels so unlikely .