This is the problem with "common knowledge" and "everybody knows" and "gut feelings".

Unless you work in an industry (such as academia, or farming, or auto manufacturing, or any of the other thousands of industries), what you know is superficial.

You think you know, because how complicated could something be?

The public could learn a thing or two by asking questions from people who make these pursuits their lives.

For instance, did you ever stop to think that Professors advise students who write papers, and are therefore listed as co-authors?

Another knee-jerk would be: look at these professors only putting out 20 papers a year; they are so inefficient- they should be mentoring far more students for the money we pay them.

It cuts every way until you talk to people.