If you think about it, the better code you produce, the less you are needed.

You're absolutely true. I read a book some years ago about non quality in software. The point of the author was that it generate a lot of employment!

Yeah damn right, they can leave me the hell alone so I can focus on more important stuff!

I am conflicted between "make everything efficient and great!" and potentially automating myself out of a job :/

Even with quality software, there's always more feature requests. And working on new features is more fun than working in bugs.

@bittersweet I agree. there is never an end to the features, improvements or products you can make. "Job security" maintenance is the worst kind of work. Always strive to make your current job obsolete so you can focus on the next one.