Appropriate hype is the motive force. You are exactly right on this. I was a physics grad student (not particles) when the Supercollider was being pitched. W

Appropriate hype is the motive force. You are exactly right on this. I was a physics grad student (not particles) when the Supercollider was being pitched. We had a colloquium on it, and the presenter kept repeating the slogan "5 years, 5 billion dollars." Most of us were savvy enough to know that such a claim was pure bullshit. But hey, if you convince them to start it they would never cancel it, right? And if you needed more money they would have to give it to you, right?