These folks are MIT, so citations are valuable to them. Citations convert into prestige, academic career progression, or a favorable exit from academia into industry.

Also, I don't see why you couldn't patent this if you wanted to monetize it.

> Also, I don't see why you couldn't patent this if you wanted to monetize it.

We all just saw the prior art published for the public. That will preclude patenting this work. Further reduction to practice is required.

(I am not a lawyer).