Everyone looks stuff up in the manual, out of fear of looking like a newbie? Well, I don't think that's why, but any reason's a good reason. I think it has more to do with wanting to learn, and recognizing that a man page is a much better way of understanding grep than a single regex someone responds to your specific "help me please" question with.

(And what's this mean: "Instead of progressing technology"? Do you think that the people who ask dumb questions instead of Ring TFM are likely to bring about any technological progress? Or am I misunderstanding your point?)