Why are so many so ignorant?

it is astounding how many players with overwhelming material disadvantage still play on thinking they have a snowflakes chance in hell of doing any good...showing a woeful ignorance of basic endgame theory and techniques

I think you mean a snowball's chance in hell, and it's because even if I blunder first, there's always a chance for you to blunder.

Isn't a snowflake's chance in hell, rather less than a snowball's chance in hell?

it is snowflake signifying  nil chance of surviving the intense heat,...you may get a heat rsistant snowball(?)  at least it would last longer than a snowflake!

definitely

There are already several threads on this topic with a lively debate between those of us who feel that the polite sportsmanlike action is to resign once it is clear that the game is lost versus those who consider it mandatory to play to the very end, even in a situation such as K+Q v. K against a GM who surely knows how to mate with a Queen. As I recall, one of the proponents of the "never resign" philosophy propounded that the situation was not hopeless because the GM could have a heart attack and lose!