Actually it is. There is no good reason scientists should all follow the same course of action. In fact, per your own appeal to statistical reasoning, such reas

Actually it is. There is no good reason scientists should all follow the same course of action. In fact, per your own appeal to statistical reasoning, such reasoning is only meaningful if you have an actualization of the samples. If no scientists ever try the unlikely scenarios then you will always reach local optimum. What is at stake is "Some scientists should consider FTL travel possible, and give it a go." for such a statement, the argument definitely holds water.