> the only company actually attempting to move the needle is so despised in HN

This adulation certainly contributes. Just because other companies aren't constantly talking about or hawking their half-baked things doesn't mean they're not doing research. There are some companies spending more on research than Tesla's entire budget, but some of you seem to think Tesla is the only one trying new things because their CEO has to organize an event and riff about anything that comes to mind while pretending it's almost done. It honestly makes me sad that so many people fall for this.