re: And also SETI.
As I like to ask anyone who says SETI is unworkable, what others methods do they know for finding life beyond Earth, especially intelligent life?
Unless they know we're going to be visited soon or have a fleet of starships ready to explore the galaxy, using the rather small amount of resources we have with radio and optical telescopes to scan the skies for technological signals is hardly a waste of time or money for something can could conceivably change our society forever. And how will we ever find them if we do not explore and formulate theories? Sounds scientific to me.