In most of these cases, I actually suspect malice over ignorance. They figure they can squeeze some unpaid overtime out of an unsuspecting junior by pressuring them to "commit" to an unreasonable deadline and then trying to hold them to it.
I had a shocking realization one day that the incompetent PO I was dealing with had not bumbled his way into that position but been placed there on purpose by his manager.
There are certain brands of incompetence that get results, and you don't have to be the one that is aware of that fact to reap the rewards of manipulating people in that way.
In most of these cases, I actually suspect malice over ignorance. They figure they can squeeze some unpaid overtime out of an unsuspecting junior by pressuring them to "commit" to an unreasonable deadline and then trying to hold them to it.