I don't disagree with your premises, Homunculus, except that nowadays Science is not Just Science. It's Science-filtered-by-statisticians, and we all know that how the data is tweaked can easily be (a)biased by the hoped-for results, and (b)subject to re-evaluation in the future with a different conclusion.
That's what I have against the current fad to pounce on every new study as the ultimate result.
And yes, the pharm companies are interested in selling drugs. We just have to keep their agendas in perspective, and we are entitled to differing conclusions.
That said, I find it appalling that so many apparently bright folks are willing to discard scientifically obtained advice, whatever its flaws, in favor of junk science, quackery, and hucksterism.