It is because in fact MOST mathematicians (and researchers) don't really just want "advances" in their field. They also want to have some significance and play a role in it. What's the point of doing research, which takes a lot of work for much less pay than industry, except to have some of the glory?

I didn't go into math so I could read the results of others all day. I went into it to contribute meaningfully, and I certainly don't consider interpreting the results of a machine to be a meaningful contribution.

Your perspective is just the perspective of a consumer of things. In that case, it doesn't matter where they come from.