Why haven't a large number of cryptocurrencies copied Primecoin's mining algorithm?

Why haven't a large number of cryptocurrencies copied Primecoin's mining algorithm?

According to my understanding, generating an ever-growing list of prime numbers benefits mathematics and society in some mysterious way. Given this, why have more recently created proof-of-work focused coins largely ignored Primecoin's mining algorithm in favor of Bitcoin's, which yields no epiphenomenal benefits?

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