@ pimplucius
You state that " Of course they love government largesse but for the most part they are more motivated by the same thing that has motivated you to learn about cosmology and physics on the side. They want to know the truth and they would really like to do something useful with their lives" -
My argument to that is as follows:
They are FIRST motivated by greed and self-interest, as we all are. In light of this motivation, they understand that should someone come up with a complete unified theory that explains everything, their jobs would be endangered.
They also recognize that the huge outrageous projects that are based on SR and GR would come to an end immediately. For example, the money spent on the Gravity Probe B experiment, the money spent on LIGO, the money spent on LISA, the money spent on the LHC, etc.. etc.. etc.. - I mean we are talking billions upon billions of dollars in science projects that revolve entirely around research in SR and GR theory.
They do not want a theory that actually solves real problems. Such a theory would preclude them from engaging in the mindless looting spree they are currently undertaking.
Anyone that puts forth a coherent real theory that challenges the precepts of SR and GR is immediately cast aside and ridiculed because protection of those theories is central to the largess and employment they receive.