I think the ... hoo-ha ... online is going to have at least one positive effect - a greater interest in and funding of basic research.

The Western world could double its science budget tomorrow and not notice the line item cost, and should probably double it's education budget while we are there (which we would notice but that's kind of the point).

We don't know where the next break through will come from, but well educated well funded researchers is the one thing we do know we need.