PFOA was banned, but PFOS and other very-slightly-different forever chemicals are not banned, therefore get around those regulations due to that technicality. Also, the current US administration is looking into removing a lot of those regulations.

I think in some cases it’s driven by capitalism. Your business didn’t make you money forever? Failed. Your books stopped selling and you didn’t make millions from what you published? Failed. Your show was good for a couple of seasons, but outlived it’s hype? Failed

There are other scenarios line you mentioned, marriage or hobbies, that AREN’T about money. But the ones that involve profit follow that.