Bravo Iain for this statement:
"how many original thinkers were at first villified before having a grudging acceptance of their contributions"
That is *precisely* how science works!
I forget whose quote this is (Karl Popper?):
"Hypotheses are scorned when born, live briefly in glory, and die discredited"... and I have probably butchered it.
As for stepping outside the herd - that is the surest route to fame and funding!