is it possible that trained engineers who take this engineering sermon to heart, are then not prepared to deal with daily, common corrupt practices and dark-patterns so prevelant in real-life money handling?

Second, different question -- To what extent do you have to believe in good, to do good in real life. How much overlap does that have with the practice of cryptography ?

Third question - are specialists in a complex society, able to have say and dominion over the tasks they are paid to do? Not theoretically, in practice now.