[elliottback]

From the description it doesn't sound like there is any new technique being used, just an application of existing software to a new large prime.

There are a very few justifications:

* They get new bounds on factorization performance, which might be important to keep tabs on over time, in case no one else does it, and suddenly we find all our primes factored

* For some reason, INRIA really really hates unfactorized primes

I agree with you that, unless their upcoming research paper introduces new information/experimental procedure, it was a waste of money.