The scientists I know see it as almost a vocation. They want the prestige of having their names in journals and the feeling that they're helping advance human knowledge. I can't really blame them... I class it as a bit like development in the way they undervalue their skills so that they can get it.

I guess the other side of it is that the people paying scientists really don't know if their grant money will pay off so they want to hedge their bets on costs (eg salaries)