When you align consumer and producer incentives, in this way, the engineers have to actually... think. 

How can we do the most, with the least?

The cost of the thinking is high, but it only has to be done once, whereas the costs of inefficient design are long-lasting. And each inefficient version is packed onto the last one, making it worse and worse. 

 I am realising that "Aligning incentives" is a solution to many problems around me. 

At work 
At home with the kids
Governments and citizens
When resolving an argument with a neighbour 
... Everywhere!  

 Yes.