Yes the title is clickbait but I think it's an important discussion.

I've been trying to get into medical research as I'm studying my undergrad and the state of modern research has absolutely gutted me. Researchers are expected to publish a certain amount of studies to keep their jobs, having to beg for grants with a 4% success rate. When they do finally get the money and are able to do the research, they have to again pay money to get published.
From then on, the research doesn't even belong to them and they'll be expected to pay for it if they want copies.

Looking at how many great scientists and innovations there were in past centuries and comparing it to today, I can't help but think publishing is at least in part responsible for it.

Can someone from another field of science weigh in on this? What's the state of research in that field?