[kurthr]

Well, early in their carriers they are rewarded for grants and supporting many grad students. It's problematic to not award tenure to a professor who is supporting 30 students. If they leave with their grants and only take a few (of the best) students, leaving the rest of the students in the lurch and very (rightfully?!) angry at the department dean/provost. Usually, some other means of supporting them is found since it's a little embarrassing otherwise.

After tenure, it seems like profs drop down to a manageable 4-7 students in the disciplines I studied in. You can do that on 1-2 grants a year.

As others have previously mentioned it's a bit weird, because actually teaching is neither taught nor really supported by most research universities. It's often required, but not all that advantageous to do well.

[bigodanktime]

Its unfortunate with teaching as I see it as an opportunity to extend the good values of research and problem solving to students (at least in the later years of a degree).

I guess it depends on how you view an academic institution, is it to produce good thinkers or produce good work, although similar seems like you approach it in different ways when approaching it from one way or the other.

I'm not even upset with professors, I think Assistant Profs do the most work I've ever seen anyone ever do, its absolutely insane the crazy workload they take on to get tenure.