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Why did New Kingdom kings choose rock-cut tombs in the Valley of the Kings instead of pyramids?

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Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. — Egyptian art and architecture Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.

During the New Kingdom, pharaohs shifted away from building pyramids for their burials primarily due to security concerns. While the monumentality of the pyramid served as a powerful symbol of royal authority, it also made the tombs highly visible and obvious targets for tomb robbers.123

To better protect their rich burials and prevent desecration, New Kingdom kings chose to site their tombs in a remote, secluded area at Thebes known as the Valley of the Kings. This location was chosen in part because it was dominated by a natural mountain peak that resembled a pyramid.142

In this valley, royal tombs were carved deep into the limestone cliffs, often with no outward structure to reveal their location. The earliest of these rock-cut tombs were entirely hidden from view, while later ones were marked only by a simple doorway carved into the rock face. This transition allowed the pharaohs to conceal their final resting places more effectively than the highly conspicuous pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms.1432