Sadly, as administrator at a research university, I know what you say is only too true. The reality is that only a handful of faculty are really doing research that is good enough to have a meaningful impact on society. For most faculty, they are much more likely to have a positive impact by teaching the sons and daughters of the taxpayers who pay their salaries, but a lot remain convinced that their obscure papers in obscure journals are more important than their students.
The bottom line reason for the demand for research and publications is $$$$$$.
The professor’s salary is covered in part or in whole by grants. A professor’s grants provide jobs for grad students. Also the grant covers some of the costs of overhead.
The ability of a professor to teach means nothing beyond them being criminally abusive or obviously politically incorrect.
These people (not all, but most) are viscious and catty. UTMB had their Dean of the Medical school under attack by the dear professors because she was demanding too much change (work). Their Union was furious and threatening. Next thing you know, thugs beat her husband and her dog at her house while she was at work.
Making scientist wackos into the high priests of truth in society is absolutely insane. The global “scientists” of climategate are not the exception...they are the rule in the cleansed culture of research today. Very sad that the radicals took over Western science.