I think you're overestimating your importance, and for me that notion is indeed the crux of the matter, that ultimately also leads to QAnon, etc: It's a miscon

I think you're overestimating your importance, and for me that notion is indeed the crux of the matter, that ultimately also leads to QAnon, etc: It's a misconception that scientists gather in their ivory towers and spend weeks and months scheming, how they can rub it in to the plebes that they are smarter. Most are not interested in that, and, I'd say, all have something better to do. There are many, much easier, and much better ways to get into a position where you can live out your inferiority complexes. You think that's the motivation of someone going through grad school, doing a PhD, a couple of PostDocs, then tenure track, etc. I admire Feynman and Einstein as the next guy, but they lived in an academic environment that is vastly different from what we have today.