If premature optimization getting in the way is the norm for the projects you helped then I'm afraid that the people who crated them before that might not be as smart as you imply.
A "smart" and/or a "senior" programmer knows not to optimize prematurely.
But maybe I latched only on this one sentence and missed your point. Sorry if that's the case.
Honestly I think even junior developers know better, but we all make bad calls sometime and maybe worst of all, requirements can change and sabotage our best efforts.
