Brute-search is not idiotic testing. It is many times much faster to automate the search and then to move on to the next level/parameter (where you may get to start exploring again).
Brute-force search is idiotic testing, almost by definition. The smart approach is sparse matrices, optimized either by staring at mountains of data (possible computer-assisted), or by gut feeling. Oftentimes the search space is so large (protein crystallization involves at least buffer, precipitant, pH, concentration) that you need to look at promising spots in the search space.
it might not be that easy. What happens when each iteration takes 30 minutes of setup, 4 hours -> overnight reaction time, 20 minutes of concentration, and a 30 minute silica gel column?
You parallelize and pipeline.
Interns?
brute force is "naive" testing.
it's almost never better (I say this as the person who ran exacycle, the world's largest brute force supercomputer).