They want to know, not because they need the knowledge to achieve something, but because the knowledge in its pure form is worth something to them.

Yes, that is such a rare thing in fiction! And it's one of the things Friedman really does right - her protagonists are curious, they want to know things, they're never willfully blind. It's one of the more endearing things about Damien too, actually - he never turns down knowledge, no matter the source. None of that "you're evil, therefore I will discard everything you say" crap from him!