It's not a false dichotomy in the context of the discussion here. The 'bets' alluded to in the title are financial bets. And the first screen of any bet is "how

It's not a false dichotomy in the context of the discussion here. The 'bets' alluded to in the title are financial bets. And the first screen of any bet is "how big is the market" etc. In Academia science, the "market" is simply prestige...in "VC" backed systems, the market is simply "money". Basically everything in academic <as a system> is geared to polishing a reputation/presitge of the sponsoring institution. That prestige is the currency that allows the various non-profit entities to raise more money (ie, make money) so even this "prestige" is just another "invisible hand" of the market for donation or tax dollars. The marketing and propoganda around fundraising for universities, foundations, or tax-based government funding sources is "achieving our mission"...and the measurement of the execution along that front ("success"!) is the <term of art> called "prestige". As your story points out, "prestige", and the money that accrues to it, is only loosely correlated with "the truth" or "good science"...{etc}.