I used to write art reviews and I often made exactly the same point; one very unpopular in the art world: process is nonsense. Only the product, the art, matters. To some degree this becomes a context argument again. :)

Software development is completely different. It's not one person creating a finished work. Keeping a software base together is itself process. I would never have quit my last job if even 1/3 of the practices in that assessment were in place (they weren't all process either). It was primarily the homegrown, ad hoc, à la carte, manager's choice process drove me out.

Before you think I'm disagreeing with your major point I'll mention that I refused to be sent for Six Sigma Black Belt training a few of jobs back because, in the main, I agree with you; and strongly enough to cripple my own career. That was one of two choices that probably cost me a directorship or major program manager job at one of the Net's biggest animals.

So I don't disagree with you. I think there's a huge difference between bureaucracy -- which is what I feel you are really critiquing -- and best practices -- which I found most of the assessment to encourage.