I think if one has paid attention to how many different entities Bell Labs has come under through mergers and acquisitions (and the fate of those parent compani

I think if one has paid attention to how many different entities Bell Labs has come under through mergers and acquisitions (and the fate of those parent companies), it's shocking why anyone would think the 1950s/1960s/1970s reputation should be applied to the present entity. That's not to say that M&A automatically (or significantly dilutes) the value of the research arm of a commercial organization. Rather, every few years, you have to re-evaluate what they're actually committed to.