So what of the drugs that save lives and take decades and billions of dollars to develop? Where's the incentive for anyone or anything to take the long view and do all that work for zero return?

Similarly there's no way I'd ever bother making a film or writing a book if entitled little shits decided my work had no value and just nicked it. I'll go and do something that will reward for me for my time.

That's a trade. If you were a plumber I wouldn't expect you to work for nothing.

Times that by an entire planet and it looks like a rather more desolate place.