Ask HN: What incentivizes patent clerks to verify claims?

It would seem to me these government workers, no matter how bright, would still be most fundamentally rewarded for number of patents reviewed, and challenging a claim seems like it must be more difficult than accepting it, as a challenge requires the patent clerk to 1) claim understanding and 2) possibly cause more strain in the office if the applicant fires back. And I suspect most of these clerks have moved on and are well clear of any repercussions by the time their decisions get invalidated in court.<p>Is there any way to validate their decision-making outside the courts? Preferably much earlier?