Yes Duma, there are indeed reams of papers.

A quick look at those posted show almost all are case reports. These are not meaningful, this is what I call "show and tell". Do a neat case and your resident who is fired up to bulk up a CV and send off the case report to a minor journal and everyone is happy. These type publications are not really useful, and most major journals don't accept them anymore. I work on 2 surgical journal editorial boards, and neither takes case reports.

I have still not seen much meaningful literature that robot surgery is "better". It may be equivalent. In general, the "total room time" (wheels in to wheels out) is greater with robotic surgery.

I have no other explanation for why academic places are doing it, but you are right, they are not. My friends fairly quick dismissal speaks to that maybe, for some reason they don't consider it an advance right now. That does not mean it won't be, or that people seeking niches and expsoure won't do it until it is proven, and we are all banking on that happening in some fashion.