Hey, it's a quality rant.
There's still innovative folks out there, but lots of the "worker bees" in the technical and scientific fields are not. One theory I have is that much of this homogenization of design comes from commonality of software (all designs start to look the same) and the manipulation of such. Formerly "back of the envelope" problem solving is done by pre-canned macro. I've found having to use serious brain time on a deadline wonderful for increasing one's innovative abilities (sort of like the old saying "the realization of being hung a dawn focuses one's attention.)
blah, blah, blah.
Only a company without competition works in that mode.