This is a nice ideal but science is still an intensely human endeavour. The human part of science brings with it the politics and prestige that is associated with scientific work.
To try to bring an analogy, D. Knuths recent comment on the recent sensitivity proof has brought the discussion of the topic on a different level because it has basically been stamped with the approval of a highly prestigious scientist.
So although the sensitivity proof is a mathematical proof, the recent buzz around it has rocketed it to another level. This brings about real rewards in the form of promotions and invitations to exclusive social circles, all of which are desirable to humans.
To be slightly cynical, the majority of research output is not worth your time to read, so mechanisms that presort (E.g. by author list, keywords, and journal name) help to increase the chance you read a paper worth your time.
"Red herring" in that it's not what the ultimate goal of academic publishing is.
Is prestige very much baked into the practice, profession, career, and culture of academia? Yes. Has it largely always been thus? To the origins of the modern university, if not before -- arguably.
But that's not a necessary role, certainly not for publishing to play, and though giving a thought to side effects and consequences, disrupting the publication cycle might solve a few more problems then it creates.
Or not.
The deeper problem is that demonstrations of correctness don't adhere to publishing, funding, teaching, or even career cycles. Things can be thought wrong for a very long time and proved right, or vice versa. And again, all the prestige in the world won't change the truth value.
Though it will change what truths, or myths, are socialised at any given point in time.
To try to bring an analogy, D. Knuths recent comment on the recent sensitivity proof has brought the discussion of the topic on a different level because it has basically been stamped with the approval of a highly prestigious scientist.
So although the sensitivity proof is a mathematical proof, the recent buzz around it has rocketed it to another level. This brings about real rewards in the form of promotions and invitations to exclusive social circles, all of which are desirable to humans.
To be slightly cynical, the majority of research output is not worth your time to read, so mechanisms that presort (E.g. by author list, keywords, and journal name) help to increase the chance you read a paper worth your time.