I wish this comment was more representative of my personal experience in science.
Instead I got PIs happy to say that weak evidence "proved" their theory and to try suppress evidence that negatively impacted "fundablity". The most successful scientists I worked with were the ones who always talked like a PR puff piece.
What field, may I ask?
Applied physics. I'd prefer not to get too specific. Most of my peers are working for the US DoD or DoE now.
I wonder if what you described is due to the money incentive?
I did theoretical physics (no money) and my experience totally matches what the other person described.