[JumpCrisscross]

> breathless proposals for ways to design shinier hubcaps whenever some promising new technology appears

I wouldn't underestimate the emotional toil of dealing with illness and death [1].

Tackling these problems head on requires (a) exposing researchers to that toil and (b) removing from the pool anyone who doesn't want to do that. Given how much of Silicon Valley culture is built on borderline-ludicrous optimism (once it's over the border it no longer qualifies as building), it makes sense that the indirect approach finds resonance here in a way the direct one does not.

Where your argument finds ample purchase is in the asymmetry of idiot luxury spending in our society to basic and applied research of any kinds, wings or Wilm's tumour.

[1] https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/19/mental-health-doctor-res...