They would be pissing off the admins who have to answer phone calls from angry donor parents about cancelled classes, but the professors that count, their PIs/s

They would be pissing off the admins who have to answer phone calls from angry donor parents about cancelled classes, but the professors that count, their PIs/supervisors probably back them 100%. If they get themselves paid by the Uni, that's less topping up that the lab head might feel obligated to do to make it possible for them to complete dissertation research that benefits the lab.