GBZ,
You're spot on wrt the relaxation of the so-called dress code.
On the other hand, look where the push to be more commercailly minded has taken us, with RAB and the crazy effects of the COCC (now thankfully stopped). Going back to the loss of expertise, whatever you think of its recent effectiveness (largely due to political direction) , the long tradition of tech costs, cost control and accounting could trace its heritage back to Samuel Pepys, but that has now been abandoned in favour of Strategic Partners and possible transition to an ENDPB.