For a community focused on research, usability produces very little useful research. Yes, there is the ever useful HCI Bibliography , but that is a scary place for developers. Not at all. Instead, this indicates to me that there is not enough good research available for developers. I'm talking about easy to understand, easy to use research.
Research results for the masses to absorb.
It is obscure. If it is because the costs are too high, then that is yet another reason why usability is on its last leg. Now, suppose your company is facing rough times. No, probably not. Of course you will kill it.