-some of its true, like the conversation part. i sometimes say yes/no/okay just so the conversation will end.
-a true engineer will want the part to perform the task as specified by the customer as far under budget as possible, so he can later say i saved the company $x anytime his job is in question.
-lastly, on the ego thing. its not how smart you are, but how smart people think you are. people respect ya when they think your a genius.
