Why do people tend to skip exit interviews? I've never understood as it's your last chance to say what's not working and be listened to.
TC or... GTFO (but do your exit interview first)
Waste of time.
Don't burn the bridge, but do see if you can help the rest of the team. Telling HR you were underpaid is usually pretty safe.
Do you think even though of multiple attempts from Engineer side what needs to change, management did not act on it, and things will suddenly change from talks of exit interview. What point you are you trying to make, and what benefit it will provide and to whom.
You have nothing to gain from an exit interview. It's all downside
Even if you do, just call out that you thoroughly enjoyed your time at work and hope that the paths cross once again and such shit.
Because it's never taken seriously.
Useless
I feel like part of what makes them "useless", is that not enough people do the interview; so HR and management don't have enough data points to justify changes...
Do you have data points for - how many people did exit interviews - how HR perceived the exit interview and what changes were made. Usually for big changes, one needs to have right cards in hand. Usually external investors/stock holders, or organized walk outs are catalysts for changes to happen. Individuals leaving the change, 1-4 people in a day is not big number. For it to be noticed, can 100s of people quit on same day.
Don't burn the bridge.
May the bridges I burn light the way
Light the way for whom? Your colleagues? Or HR? Unless things are related to discrimination or bro culture or some form of protected class, HR will not mind how Exec/Director runs the team.