Yes! If their true goal was expanding the field, they would be excited. But if, instead, they saw this as some sort of a race to be the first to prove a conjecture, then their frustration is understandable. But it would be good if they had been honest about it from the get go; possibly they did not even realize it themselves.

I bet lots of them, who are in it for the love of the game, are truly excited by what is going on.