> Obviously we can put more weight behind the words a person says if they’ve proven themselves trustworthy in prior areas - and we should!

no, you shouldn't

this is how you end up with crap like vaccine denialism going mainstream

"but he's a doctor!"

Credentialism isn't a fix for the problem you've outlined. If anything, over-reliance on credentials bolsters and lends credence to crazy claims. The media hyper-fixates on it and amplifies it.

We've got Avi Loeb on mainstream podcasts and TV spouting baseless alien nonsense. He's a preeminent in his field, after all.

Focus on what you understand. If you don't understand, learn more.