What you were responding to was hardly a lazy assumption, and there was nothing rude about it.
> "I merely ask you to imagine yourself in the shoes of someone that competent."
The principle of nullius in verba must apply regardless of how competent one imagines researchers are. If you've spotted a potential methodological problem, you can't just imagine it's solved or handwave it away. You should have a look for yourself and see how it was solved, if solved it was.
If that is your view then we are hardly in contradiction, except in our reading of the original remark.
The exemplary individual I described earlier would undoubtedly also look backwards, at what mistakes were made, but also forward, to what improvements can be found. quo me cumque rapit tempestas. Again, this is not a depressing sentiment.
> "I merely ask you to imagine yourself in the shoes of someone that competent."
The principle of nullius in verba must apply regardless of how competent one imagines researchers are. If you've spotted a potential methodological problem, you can't just imagine it's solved or handwave it away. You should have a look for yourself and see how it was solved, if solved it was.