In addition to what you've said about the frustration, there's the following. Basic research is vitally important, and has contributed so much to society. Yet

In addition to what you've said about the frustration, there's the following. Basic research is vitally important, and has contributed so much to society. Yet by its very nature you can't predict if how any specific piece of basic research will provide benefit. It's a fundamental misunderstanding of basic research and scientific and technological development to expect to be able to know, and thus say, what the benefits might be. Rather than expecting to be able to predict the benefits, we have to have a more 'statistical' set of expectations. That, on aggregate, and over time, basic research will provide substantial benefits. And it's not just the general public who don't appreciate this. I find that many people working in applied research don't appreciate it either.