Same here - I went into science thinking that it would be all about trying new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what we know. And while in a certain sense that is still present, it takes a back seat to the perverse incentives you describe.

This was one of (and unfortunately not the only) reason I decided to leave academia after my Ph.D., leaving my field entirely and going into software engineering rather than taking a postdoc position. Academia isn't for everyone, and neither is industry... but wow, I sure am happier where I am now.