People keep conflating my example with non-assigned work, ie: "spend time working on the wrong issues or going down rabbit holes because their vision is superior to those around them"

Clearly this would be a problem, and I understand why people are conflating it with what I am describing because it is both related and relatable.

But, I'm talking about doing your assigned work - maybe calling out the specific Postgres example is why everyone assumes it's just some jackass running off on their own... in the hypothetical I posited I did not mean this. I also did not mean to paint the hypothetical worker staying back at the office as rude/a jackass...

Truly - there are many people who are only interested in keeping their nose down 100% focused on what work is assigned to them vs. the amorphous "culture fit" socializing. Hell - lots of them for fully rational reasons like social anxiety.

Many people want to come to work to work, and then go home.