it's a bit like the whole Intelligent Design debates, in that, there was really no debate... taking the IDers to task in a courtroom was fine, as they can never win, there is no evidence as is needed in a court of law. However, taking them to task in public debates only lent credence to them and allowed them to further obfuscate and confuse the public. No scientist is taking on hoax theories one by one because their lives would end while writing the book and they wouldn't ever see the end of the argument.
that's how I see it anyway...