> the reality is: if you gave accurate estimates, you'd get reprimanded, not get the project approved, etc.

I have never actually experienced this personally, but I have no doubt that it's a thing in many companies.

But it's really inept management. If management has some sort of hard date in mind, then the way they should pose the problem to dev is: we need this completed by xx/xx/xx -- what can be accomplished in that time?