Boy, was this essay all over the place. Yet hear I am responding. You've touched a nerve.

For me the key nugget in your essay is one of the first lines - "Organics: "You're right! It's work but it's artful work." It lies in the distinction between that which is "artful" and the semantic morass of that which is "art". Assigning the status of "art" is irrelevant. Describing a piece of software as "artful" connotes that the team who created it has an appreciation of and aspiration to some ideal of perfection. It's a compliment to their character. It doesn't have to fall in line with a particular belief system (organic or mechanic), what matters is that you're surrounded by believers. Something matters. I don't know if this inherently produces better or more successful products - believers can still be deluded. I do know that this energy, channeled towards helping/pleasing another, can move mountains. Or at least make iPods.