[JanisErdmanis]

> Are you suggesting that limiting interference will be a practical dead end that is prevents advancement?

This is a hunch I have. Regarding the "plenty of smart people think it’s worth trying", I can only provide an analogy of the 15-14th puzzle known as the Boss puzzle at that time, for which a substantial prize was promised for the first one who could solve it. A lesser-known proof that it is impossible came to surface decades later. There is a lot of inertia in academia along those lines, where grants depend on your ability to make a convincing argument that your path will solve the problem. This sets up PhDs to know only to advance but not to question as the latter does not give the prize.

[WhitneyLand]

That’s a good point.

Of course it happens the other way around also - things are thought not to be possible and later realized through some unexpected result or insight.

But I wouldn’t guess that’s as common or as systemic.