In this case it wasn't a middle finger to regulation, because no regulation existed. It was a middle finger to the science behind certifying the craft for ad-depth pressures. Additionally, these craft are used in international waters, where no regulatory body has jurisdiction.
Yeah. I think a lack of respect and understanding of science is a big problem these days. Sure it may not always get things right the first time, but science is always willing to update and adapt based on evidence.
It's always been this way. Been watching a lot of true disaster videos lately and it genuinely disturbs me how easily and just how many of them could have been prevented by established rules and procedure present at the time.
The YouTube channels I've been liking lately include Plainly Difficult, Fascinating Horror, Brick Immortar, Disaster Breakdown, and last but not least Mentour Pilot!
Just seconding Plainly Difficult, and Mentour Pilot. Also, I think Kyle Hill's series on nuclear "disasters" is pretty good. It's called "Half-life Histories."