So...what now? Bitcoin mining was never designed to be efficient. It's more secure the more inefficient it is, even. Things are working as intended.

If people are trying to say that it's a waste because you don't even gain gold at the end of it (this was implied within the article), then that's a completely subjective argument. Even most pollution concerns are grounded on predicted mining growth, not the current mining situation. People are making it into a bigger issue than it actually is.