I suspect the answer stems from the commoditization of the hardware - in which the meaningful differences for a particular good are so few between that no one cares much about which brand it is except that it fulfills their needs. And as you said, the reduced profit margins spreads down the chain.
I've also wondered how employers see them from the business perspective. It's hard to determine a 'business profit contribution' value attached to the 'quality of work' they produce except that things don't break down, and stuff gets done on time.
Furthermore, if the embedded code is the sort where once it's done, it's done, and little to no maintenance is required, the business people might see no need for the guy to be around. Maybe someone could clarify if this is true.
I've also wondered how employers see them from the business perspective. It's hard to determine a 'business profit contribution' value attached to the 'quality of work' they produce except that things don't break down, and stuff gets done on time.
Furthermore, if the embedded code is the sort where once it's done, it's done, and little to no maintenance is required, the business people might see no need for the guy to be around. Maybe someone could clarify if this is true.