That's generally right. However, a non-trivial number of well-educated, scientifically minded persons do not take a long enough view. A possible explanation: it

That's generally right. However, a non-trivial number of well-educated, scientifically minded persons do not take a long enough view. A possible explanation: it is difficult for humans to care about research timelines that may or may not be longer than the average human life. Maybe it's some sociological theory X, and you think, "well, yeah, X has some kinks, but they should be worked out within the next decade or so." In reality, you should essentially have no attachment to said theory. And in reality, far too many people have attachments to one or more theories that have yet to be proved out fully, and could be proved out fully in a decade/century/etc. or worse... never proved out at all. In the case of currently 'proved out' (whatever we take that to mean) theories, a non-trivial number of persons have excessive attachment to one or more of them, since, taking a long view, said theories could be overturned or reinterpreted, etc.