You also seem to overestimate the usefulness of academia in general. Most profs are driven by status, not by utilitarian ideals which makes it somewhat hard to pursue useful research.
Academia has many worthwhile resources. Giant libraries, laboratory funds, political/​industrial connections, lawyers, and etc. The existence of status-driven professors does not make useful research impossible (or even difficult, really) to pursue.
Academia has many worthwhile resources. Giant libraries, laboratory funds, political/​industrial connections, lawyers, and etc. The existence of status-driven professors does not make useful research impossible (or even difficult, really) to pursue.