They made great long term corporate value and customer relationship decisions then, for their context.

When big corporations full of talent get sloppy, it is usually either a very competent emphasis on short term financial growth or value multiple growth. Or the result of multiple competent actors infighting or working at cross purposes, due to a lack of strong internal alignment. The latter jungle case saves a CEO from having to deep dive, they can just see what happens and select winners.

Either way, by competent I mean someone is accomplishing exactly what they intend. Optimizing their net worth given the company's incentive and power structures, in the absence of a CEO who cares more about the long than the short term.

It only takes that one difference at the very top to trickle down. The greater the talent, the greater the effect.