Not every engineer does a perfect job. Not everybody having ideas does always have perfect ideas that can be converted into useful products in a most effective way. Sometimes it may help to step back and take a different look or to accept a view from the outside. That's not "too chicken", but wise. And taking the shortest possible road does not mean this road leads to success. Tha
At least no need to be rude (even if "the recommended changes" were all "bad" ideas).
If you think about that for a moment, Dilbert's way can save you a lot of time in multiple places in life. If people are going to hate you for a certain act anyway, might as well take the quickest route.