that's probably a good point, in that i have been trying to get the people i work with to think more abut code re-use. i sometimes worry we have too much of a culture of "make our own version" (but see below).

but also, i think it's just the nature of the work we do - typically i am asked to implement something new for a third party (i'm more a hired gun or "consultant" than part of a development team).

so probably it was a dumb comment of mine to post without reflecting more first. sorry.

ps to answer your last question - when i work on my own projects i do a lot of rework. at work i rarely get the chance, because one contract finishes and another starts. but not sure what you were getting at there.