‘the army research, development, and engineering establishment always lets its preferences and prejudices drive acquisition.’
You could have stopped right there. They have a long and silly history of this.
So true. There is a corner of the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning devoted to failed army weapon projects from JSSAP. You should visit and see all of those losers.
I think that the upper echelons have figured out that it's a real problem but why risk your career and the potential 7-figure retirement income over something as inconsequential as success in combat?