cont.
... Back in The Day, we would have been bounced out of our research programs so fast, we might have ignited from atmospheric friction on the way out the door.  :-/

I would humbly submit that the practice of Science is definitely changing in recent years.  'Model talk' used to be a pejorative, but not any more.   I think that any reasonable citizen, whatever his/her politics, ought to be a little uncomfortable at any group claiming a monopoly on scientific truth, and (in effect), demanding to be treated as an inviolable priesthood.