Seems like a rationalisation for laziness.
To be a truly good prospector, you're going really need to understand your domain. To extend the metaphor, good prospectors are also world class geologists and they have invested in hugely sophisticated prospecting tools and expertise. Schlumberger does this for oil. They are experts in prospecting, and oil companies across the world use them. That expertise is hard won, requires massive technology investments and NOT cheap.
