> Cells are physical objects

This might sound trivial, but in me sparks a much larger point: which kinds of experimental designs and tests might we miss when engaging in a special science? In establishing dedicated methods I think it's highly likely for there to be low-hanging fruits of experimental setups not considered due to prevalence of these very specific frameworks.

Not sure I am tracking your point entirely, but any time I start digging into a new domain I regularly find that the language peculiar to that topic can hide concepts that are broadly familiar and, in part, exacerbate the problem that (I think) you are describing.