That's a very good point, the multitude of students who were screwed by this attitude indeed won't be viewing that part of their college experience favorably.
What would you say "society" views as the job of "MIT professors?"
If you said both, you'd be right as to what actually happens. With rare exceptions that prove the rule like SF author Joe Haldeman, all classes are taught by tenured or tenure track professors, and while you pretty much have to be #1 or #2 in your research subfield to get tenure, you also have to be an adequate teacher.
What would you say "society" views as the job of "MIT professors?"
If you said both, you'd be right as to what actually happens. With rare exceptions that prove the rule like SF author Joe Haldeman, all classes are taught by tenured or tenure track professors, and while you pretty much have to be #1 or #2 in your research subfield to get tenure, you also have to be an adequate teacher.