Yes, that's what you do when there are a lot of unknowns. You make an educated guess, based on the available information.

Some were wrong, like discouraging masking. Others were correct. Getting them all correct would've required a time machine.

IT folks should understand this pretty well. "Reboot your computer, it might help" is a recommendation based on weak knowledge, made with a wealth of experience behind it.

Weak evidence calls for more research not mandates in a free nation. If I wasn't sure if my prescription for fixing your computer would cause data loss or some other harm I might recommend you hold off or that we explore other options.

This thinking is great when you're not in an emergency. Less so when things are time-critical. Inaction has its own risks; in your analogy, rebooting and not rebooting have a risk of data loss, and our educated guess is that rebooting is the safer choice.

A more accurate analogy would be a cold call from an non-reputable source demanding you download and install a nightly patch which fixes a feature you don't have installed. And when you say NO! They contact your employer on linkedin and demand they fire you.