[cycomanic]

I think it is actually the other way around. These stories are often emphasised more in the media than they exist (the human element). It's also a popular meme to say sucess in science now has more to do with showmanship.

Somehow there is the expectation that someone can sit in their office write down some theory and the world automatically realises the brilliance. That's not how it works, you have to go out into the world present your work, explain it and defend it. You might call it showmanship, but it is an absolutely necessary part of science and always was.

There are many problems in science today, the resistance to just adopt new theories and the requirements to communicate your research are not part of them.