There’s a part of me that deeply agrees with you, but I don’t think we need to assume binary extremes here. LK99 is reinvigorating broader interest in science,

There’s a part of me that deeply agrees with you, but I don’t think we need to assume binary extremes here. LK99 is reinvigorating broader interest in science, and this may be one of the most important things that could possibly happen at a moment in our global history that desperately needs broad support for research and progress. None of this matters if we don’t sort out some pretty major climate/energy problems, and soon. I agree that it would be problematic for science to become what you describe. What you describe is not some guaranteed outcome of a shift towards more public participation and awareness. And to be honest, if it does lead to some garbage behavior, that may be a small price to pay for getting the public interested and invested in the process of progress.