Is it cynical to do what your manager wants?

I think the right path is feedback, build some trust, and in the end hopefully you can build a relationship where your feedback is valuable and everyone works together.

It's not all one thing or the other at all times.

> “screw the managers, you should do the right thing for the customer”

That just seems like path leading to a rightful pink slip... and inevitably doing some damage when you're wrong.