> Something I think is plausible is that they've figures out a technique for controlling the narrative in the internet age where they take the range of opinions in a group with positions they don't like, identify a really wild one, debunk it, then tar the whole group with that opinion.

exactly. "5G causes covid" "5G transmits signals to nano-carbon transmitters delivered through vaccines to mind-control the vaccinated" et al. were this to any far more reasonable criticism of 5G technology—now any such criticism is lumped in with these wacky, now-"debunked" claims.