User” centric design would argue that the happy path is one that allows the user to achieve their intended goals under normal circumstances. Unfortunately this view is heavily disincentivised, due to the ruthless logic of extractavism. Increasingly instead the happy path is determined to be the goal the business wants to achieve by manipulating and exploiting the “user’s” available resources, data, and ultimately time.

“Users” are a commodity, a hot one perhaps, but like any other commodity, can be bought and sold. In such an environment, goes the line of reasoning in the mind of the average executive, does it not make sense to heavily prioritise onboarding alongside user acquisition so that users won’t immediately give up or get distracted, or gasp, go to a competitor?!