Optimised for utility X sounds like something that would win in pretty much any circumstance.
Optimised for disutility Y sounds like something that would lose in pretty much any circumstance.
In combination, the answer is especially clear.
It’s not a counterexample: it’s the reason I didn’t say “in any circumstance.” And nor does it turn it back into a live issue; it’s equally obveous in the opposite direction.
Optimised for utility X sounds like something that would win in pretty much any circumstance. Optimised for disutility Y sounds like something that would lose in pretty much any circumstance. In combination, the answer is especially clear.
Given a choice between the largest utlity less than 0 and the smallest utility greater than 1, would you still pick the largest?
I think this is a trivial counterexample to your “in pretty much any circumstance” that turns it back in to a live question for you.
It’s not a counterexample: it’s the reason I didn’t say “in any circumstance.” And nor does it turn it back into a live issue; it’s equally obveous in the opposite direction.