[more_original]

A good understanding of randomness has much further implications than just generating random numbers for cryptography. This work is not indended as a practical method for generating random numbers, I think.

Randomness is very important for algorithms. It is currently unknown if being able to make random choices adds expressive power to efficient algorithms (the P=BPP question). Being able to generate good random numbers from a weak source can lead to more efficient determinsitic implementations of randomized algorithms, for example.

[hannob]

Seeing it like this is totally fine. I.e. this is basic research to better understand the nature of random numbers.

It just happens that all so often I see vague justifications of the form "Random numbers are important for crypto THEREFORE we need fancy random number thing X" - however the logical link between the two is not explained in detail (X may be quantum RNGs - or papers like the above). I won't blame anyone for doing basic research. I just don't like it if people advertise their basic research with practical implications that simply aren't justified.