I think you are correct, the reason being that, as related to me by JB, the orthodox BIG CO Geologists can't or won't embrace that with which they aren't familiar and there is a need to educate / sell / persuade as to the meaning and relevance of what they are being shown.  Orthodoxy makes avoiding risk 'safer' than venturing into unfamiliar 'not invented here' territory, orthodoxy is rarely questioned because it is based on the experience of "experts", it is 'the way we have always done it'. JB is the most intimately familiar with what constitutes the potential of the project.

Sports analogy:  Tie game with say, 4 minutes left - 4th and two from 50 Yard field goal range . . . Punt, FG attempt, or Go For the 1st ????  There's a lot to consider, quality of your defense, their offense, etc., BUT most coaches will punt and play for the stop and next possession, the FG attempt and 1st down attempts are disastrous if they fail, but the punt is 'safer' because they rarely get blocked and the immediate ambiguity of the near future is "acceptable".  Legends are born when a coach takes the risk for reasons / facts / knowledge known only to him, the play gets made and the unorthodoxy leads to the impossible win.