[khawkins]

Honestly, I think the near constant exaltation of problems like the Riemann Hypothesis, P=NP, Fermat's last theorem, etc. is more damaging to the field than good. Many of these theorems have dubious application to anything practical were the theorems unquestionably proven. Subsequently, it frequently gives the impression to a lay observer that mathematics is all about number theory and tackling pointless puzzles.

Going into undergrad I was briefly discouraged from going into mathematics because this was the impression I got. They're interesting to think about, but I didn't want my future to be firmly situated in inapplicable theory.

I say this knowing there is plenty of work to be done in the applied mathematics, especially in trying to simplifying the understanding of complex problems. I'd like to see more of the glorification of moderately hard problems which take more time to explain but are well within the grasp of people who start working on it, than easy to explain problems which will likely never be in the grasp of anyone.