Why not delete code? Old/stale/unused code gets only in the way and doesn't serve any purpose. And if you really happen to need it later, it is readily available in your version control system.

I fully agree with your rule about quick and dirty. I'm currently rewriting a module that was "designed" with the "I just want to get it done" approach to software engineering.

What's the old saying? A few weeks of coding can easily save you 5 minutes of design?

We're also missing a deadline. But what is the point of meeting the deadline if we have to throw out the code afterwards and start over anyway? It is better to do it right the first time. A solid system a few days late beats a crappy system on time.

In my opinion, if the code is so complex and messy that you can't see whether individual pieces are correct, then it must be considered broken, even if it compiles and does something.