I don't agree. You're basically sticking your head in the sand saying that because there have been unanticipated benefits sometimes hundreds of years later, we can't even attempt to decide what research is valuable.
If the public is paying for research, it is both fair and reasonable to ask questions about its utility. It's as simple as that.
If the public is paying for research, it is both fair and reasonable to ask questions about its utility. It's as simple as that.