I was referring to API calls between server components of what is essentially a monolithic application.

I've recently come across several such applications that were "split up" for no good reason. Just because it's the current fad to do the microservices thing. Someone liked that fad and decided that over-architecting everything is going to keep them employed.

To clarify: This was strictly worse in every possible way. No shortcuts were taken. No time was saved. Significant time and effort was invested into making the final product much worse.