[fny]

The responsible alternative to not going is to return capital to your share holders who can then do the goose hunting themselves, and management should in invest their personal stock into other companies.

For very human reasons, they thing they have a better chance of finding the goose themselves.

[lovich]

Does R&D have to have a guaranteed ROI in your view or do allow for speculative research that may not pan out?

[fny]

Of course not, but the expected return should be positive in the long run, no? Otherwise, you might as well donate to an existing university or research lab.