[jakechance]

Why would you slack on writing good especially if you'll be handing it off? Once it's theirs they can do whatever they want with it including showing off your shoddy work. Even if the project is successful, it's unlikely they'll come back to you with more work in the future.

[Tloewald]

In practice, software is assessed by its functionality not its underlying quality. This applies in spades to the target of the advice proferred.