Expert opinion isn't really worth anything until it's been stress tested by other experts. I worked with experts in the context of patent and trade secret litigation. I pick people at the top of their field from prestigious universities with impeccable credentials.

If you ask them off the cuff questions they often are wrong. But if they investigate and think about it, they'll correct themselves.

Experts are also just as susceptible to bias, motivated reasoning, groupthink, etc. as anyone else.

This is why academic papers are supposed to be a back and forth discussion. "TRUST THE EXPERTS" has a plural for reason, and should be understood to mean trust the experts after they've done a thoughtful analysis with the best available evidence and have considered dissenting expert views.