I don't know enough about this area of research to have an opinion on this particular topic, but I've noticed a trend with this sort of thing with my colleagues

I don't know enough about this area of research to have an opinion on this particular topic, but I've noticed a trend with this sort of thing with my colleagues. They both claim at different times, depending on whether it benefits them, that (1) Ideas are a dime a dozen, and making it work or bringing it to fruition, is the important thing and (2) The idea is the important thing; the specific implementation by someone doesn't matter, as they're just doing what the idea creator or discoverer laid out for others to follow. Sometimes I feel like there's a fundamental paradox there that arises a lot in numerous areas of work, business, and economics.