There may not be an incentive to recognize money laundering "too well" but there is incentive to get better. FinCEN will continue to raise the stakes of what is an acceptable AML program and staying ahead of the curve reduces the probability of a future fine.
He writes, "Then Arnie, Phyllis, and Weber resumed their agitated discussion" to make it seem like the group did not consider Martha's lone contribution. Then in the next line he describes how it took 10 whole minutes! to confirm that this was the actual solution. I feel like he was trying to portray Martha as someone who neglected by the rest of the group when in fact she was seen as just as important.