> if it means you can convince shareholders and analysts that Opex will shrink in the future

Isn't that just fraud?

No. Fraud is a much higher bar than making a prediction about your plan for the future that may or may not pan out. There’s no deception here, management fully intend to end the contractor relationship in future, whether they’re able to or not.

A vague promise which you pretend to beleave and can make believable to other is just business advice unfortunately.