Well intentioned mediocrity?

Opposing the bill that started the National Cancer Institute, James Watson, the loose cannon co-discoverer of DNAs structure said: … we must reject the notion that we will be lucky. … Instead we will be witnessing a massive expansion of well-intentioned mediocrity. (credit: The Emperor of all Maladies) Can we say, truthfully, that he was wrong? Or has the cure for cancer been a long road that will soon bear its full fruit?