Much ado about engineers

Well, already a dual attack on the poor third person singular number I see.
I think you are missing a point by trying to establish another.
If research and development were the last word, then there would be a chaos once a new product was brought to market. Let me use a bit of Hinduism in this - Shrishti (Creation), Sthiti (preservation) and Lay (destruction).....makes sense?
RnD is the Srishti bit, and I do understand your concerns that US are doing more of it with the help of Indian and other engineers who are not really contributing directly to their motherland.
But going by the SDLC (software development lifecycle), and the concept of Sthiti, Preservation (or maintenance) of what is created takes up 70% of the lifespan of any product. So if US be Bramha, Indians can always proudly say we are Vishnu. For it is this maintenance industry, run by Indians, from or away from India, that is driving a bulk of our economy. We may not be making the Ferrarri, but we have a major part to play to make sure it keeps running. And in doing that, we are directly adding value to our economy, as we are an Indian company, based in Mumbai and working all over the world!
Some people are techno-thrilled, so as to say, they like making things. And they dont and wont get satisfaction in making real time technology in India, for India. But then there are others who like keeping things the way they were made, and may be innovating a bit more to increase its life expectancy.
So when the wheel was created, nobody though much about its wear and tear until a certain Mr. John Dunlop thought of the improvisation. And then some others who made the Tyres more durable and strong. And then some who made better road design to suit the tyres. And some who kept the road surfaces smooth, to justify the value of the wheel in the end.
Complicated? Just food for thought.