Look at it from the perspective of the people who have bought their computers (e.g. Google, Lockheed). Suppose there's any remote chance this is the first step

Look at it from the perspective of the people who have bought their computers (e.g. Google, Lockheed). Suppose there's any remote chance this is the first step towards scalable quantum computing. If that's the case, getting your researchers in on the ground floor could lead to what would likely be one of the most valuable pieces of IP since the transistor. D-Wave's patents might not cover it since their patents describe devices that don't really appear to work, and you're big enough to buy them if they do. Governments, every physical science, and plenty of firms big data would be dying to get their hands on your devices. Now look at the cost of the D-Wave. A few million dollars, compared to the trillions you could make just in licensing fees if it pans out and you were the ones to crack the code. Considering how deep these companies' pockets are, wouldn't you take that bet? I would, and I side with the evaluations of some of the biggest D-Wave skeptics in academia.