[ClearCase_guy]

It's a variant of academic turf wars. The struggle is especially vicious because the stakes are especially small.

Some folks think Science is rational and objective. It's actually highly "political" and driven by money. In other words, agenda-driven.

[KMJames]

...The struggle is especially vicious because the stakes are especially small...

Did you mean to say the stakes were "small"? ... or rather "large"? I can't understand knock-down, drag-out fighting over a small prize.

But, yeah, I would think that $$$$ is the prime motivator - and in some cases - EGO.