all of the things you mentioned goes against
  everything I was taught in terms of being
  rigorous with your research.

There are certain areas where "the system" asks people to do things right - but provides vast rewards for doing things wrong, if you can avoid detection.

If you're a pro cyclist who isn't doping, good for you! But there's no medal for finishing fourth; you'll be rewarded with medals and sponsorship cash for doping undetectably.

Academics whose rigorous papers aren't quite getting into top-tier journals are in a similar situation.