Isn't it obvious? In theoretical physics, one of a researcher's main concern is to not to make wrong claims. Granted this risk aversion has its own downsides,

Isn't it obvious? In theoretical physics, one of a researcher's main concern is to not to make wrong claims. Granted this risk aversion has its own downsides, but the upside is that he is extremely careful on what he takes to be true. So it's not true that not reproducing the research you rely on has limited benefit. It has the huge benefit that the researcher convinces himself he's not introducing wrong premises. Research is already difficult enough without making mistakes in this silly way.