I don't think you can blame all the Civil Serpants on this as they spend the money where they are told - usually by senior Serpants or 1-4 stars. A current ongoing equipment competition looks like going to the wrong company (again!) and the OF-2 to OF-5s can see it's the wrong thing to do as well as the Serpants at the same level - it's just that none of us are being listened to...
The answer is that the "very high level" guidance must be followed and that guidance smells of Garlic (if you know what I mean
); and I'm not talking about Vampires!
LJ