I think both curiosity and studiousness can exist together. The vice of curiosity has led me down many new, exciting paths of learning that have changed my life and career in marvelous ways. When you say..

> prudent allocation of attention to what you should

How do we even define "what" outside of a basic moral context? "What" is a constant moving target throughout life, something extremely personal that's based on our experiences and knowledge.

I say stay curious.