Being a scientist myself, I did that. But it could simply not understand how - in early 2020! - "the scientist" could be so sure and demonized the lab leak theory so fervently.

And now in mid-2021, one of the few things that we know for sure is that some of the key scientists in the "It must be natural" camp have ties with the WIV and thus a strong conflict of interest that they did not disclose.

And then of course, there is the fact that China is blocking all research. Is that only China being China?

What do you mean "did not disclose", most scientists that had connections with WIV were pretty open about it.

Unfortunately not. And Lancet and Nature admit it now. Here is the Lancet update from 2021:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6...

More info on the same topic: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-lab-leak-theory-...

Author of the Lancet paper did not disclose ties to WIV

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/under-fire-lancet-...

Not when scientists were constantly saying "there's so much we don't know" and citing a possible 3% mortality rate.