Interesting distinction between east and west coast! Could it be because academic fields are less influenced by “looks and impressions”, while SV/technology fields are easily manipulated by people who appear to be experts?

As in: in academia if you say something, people are trained to analyze the veracity of that, and to judge you based on your methodological/academic rigor. Meanwhile, in SV people judge you on past projects and financial conditions, which are not tied to knowledge about reality at all. I don’t know if any of what I am saying is factually correct, I’m just guessing and wondering. Don’t take it as fact, just my biased, un-founded opinion created around what I see online.

I think it's because those who have knowledge of financial and human capital are the ones who make the final sprint of the marathon of problem solving.

When the science is knocking on heavens door after years or decades of struggles they feel the opportunity of commercial success and come out of the woodwork to make the last effort to finally push the pile over the goal line by making adjustments in how human capital and financial capital are deployed.