> I think the frame of reference is the programmer intent.

Sure. However, that is secondary. The sort of mistakes that you mention can be caught during code review or unit testing, completely independently of what the actual user requirement is. This post, evidently, does not involve such a case.

> The code is doing what the programmer intended, even if that is not what the user wanted.

Your perspective appears to be inside-outward. It may be helpful during a performance appraisal, but does the business no good!

Edit: inside-out --> inside-outward.