Note that in your points you use abuse, exploitation, and legally, implying that the company is breaking laws.

Let me clarify: what I’m talking about is that people think the ruling in Dodge v. Ford Motor Co absolutely requires companies to do everything they can to “maximize shareholder value,” but it doesn’t. The part of the opinion that mentioned that was meant to be dicta, not legally binding.

The law does not require companies to act sociopathically. “We needed to maximize shareholder value” is not a valid excuse.