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You're having a mental failure here:

"I'm curious: if you found another engineer who was in a messy codebase doing something something seemingly crazy, would you 1) assume they're an idiot or 2) reserve judgment until you know more?"

I might say:

"Having a messy codebase is a way to keep having bugs."

That's analogous to my original statement.

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It's also as helpful and insightful as your original statement.

My original statement is quite helpful, if you're trying to get yourself out of a financial hole. Restaurant eating is savagely expensive. I learned that the first time I had to loop a paycheck. It's not complete advice, meaning that not eating at restaurants alone won't lift you from poverty, but getting into the restaurant habit is a good way to stay broke.

I am not sure you understand just how poor they are.

"In a good month, their combined efforts can bring in a few hundred dollars."

They are in a situation where they cannot afford to save money in most conventional ways.

Spending $100 on a fridge that they can't properly use (because they can't cook in a shelter) isn't a wise appropriation of a significant portion of their monthly income.

And spending $100 on Chinese food, instead of $40 on non-perishables, is?

I really doubt they're eating that well.

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