[gluggymug]

how did the academics do it?

Tape out using these tools?

My guess is they skipped gate level and other stuff that I consider good quality (BISTs, DFT logic, power estimation etc). You either skip it or rewrite your tests in Verilog/VHDL/etc.

Static Timing Analysis etc. can only do a little of what's needed. You have to check your constraints are correct.

Academics don't know what they are doing. They probably never had to do a design flow for a real product or even touched a commercial tool. It's too expensive. That's why they make these other tools. And that's why these tools kinda suck at getting to a finished product.