What you're leaving out is that researchers have limited time and limited money.

That being the case, chasing wild geese just isn't in the cards.

I can do it because I'm retired and get bored easily but people like John and Chris can't afford to look under rocks with you. Plus they already have a very good idea of what's likely to pan out.

Of course, there's still the publish or perish syndrome to consider so politics aren't entirely out of the picture.

Roger