I think this is almost by definition the case, since if you are not working in some field, the way you get an idea for an improvement for that field is by being

I think this is almost by definition the case, since if you are not working in some field, the way you get an idea for an improvement for that field is by being a user of a product of that field (e.g. by driving a car), and therefore you lack the knowledge base to make truly fundamental changes. You will most likely come up with modifications to existing products you use (e.g. the intermittent wipers) But that's OK. It's not only huge advances (like the design of a nuclear power plant, which no outsider to that field will ever be able to accomplish) that matter; our life is also improved by many small advances. The more a society enables such things, the better.