Ultimately, the tension can probably be resolved by asking the question, "If truth and some practical end conflicted, which would take priority?"
Ugh, you don't give up.
What if I said that that question is impossible to answer, because truth and practicality, at least for humans, are not independent things that can be compared side-by-side like that? Without seeking truth for the sake of truth, practicality is unattainable. And without a practical end to the truth, no one would seek the truth. Like you said, everyone pursues some sort of practical end to the truth, no matter vague. I suppose theoretically it is possible for someone to only seek truth for truth's sake and absolutely nothing else, an absolutely pure creature of truth. But such a creature cannot exist in humanity.
tl;dr in any proportion, the two are equally important
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_foolmo_
'Ulti is like when your parents post something on your facebook status' - Sir Cobain