" I find it amazing that so many people would participate in such a
dishonest act, and that it could remain secret for so long."

Sorry. Seems like you are a good person and projecting, trying to think everyone else is good.

That ain't how it is. Companies have a roomful of lawyers and accountant who do nothing but figure out odds on how much they can break the law or endanger people with a cheap design, versus how much it will cost them if they get caught, or have lawsuits. It is like playing poker. If you now ht you're doing, it is all a matter of real odds versus pot odds. that is how they think. That is how they stay on the board of directors, because they live the company on the edge. And if they don't they are voted out.