I don't think I've ever seen this phrase used about a conspiracy that actually happened. It always just ends up that they misread something.

Especially in politics, casual observers assume everything is about money (especially shadowy "corporations") but politicians are almost always legitimately ideological, which is actually worse!

Agreed, try to figure out how I benefit in any way from Codesmith's decline. Not theoretical, but hard facts. I know of THREE people that considered going to Codesmith and went to Formation instead. One of them I tried very hard to convince to go to Codesmith and she instead got a job on her own and then came to Formation.

All of this for three customers? It doesn't add up and there are some missing pieces in the story.