You know, some people have more important things to do in life then to stand around for hours signing autographs. You think the projects Bill works on would be as advanced as they are now if he spent all his time signing autographs for people. You said yourself he was " in the middle of serious research", "and how he shouldn't have to deal with this bullshit while he's working." He's right. Let the man work. Do people come to your job and pester you for autographs? No, they let you flip the burgers and serve the fries.
That's sad to hear. I like his videos he did in the past as a kid and teenager growing up yet it seems like scientists are hardly kind to anyone at all. I'd go on about what I mean but the person who explains it better is Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park novel. In the novel, he explains it better about how scientists and rich people are like.