Indeed you are right that the traffic management system seems to have an orientation towards slowing the flow of traffic.

I think a smart system — like the one I propose above — would use the latest tech to actually ensure maximum throughput while maintaining safe speed behavior. It is possible to design a great algorithm for this.

And WRT the 405 photo — indeed. It’s iconic, but unfair. The stretch of the 101 near my home is more congested, more regularly, but it doesn’t photograph quite as well. :)