The insistence that confused early accounts are somehow more accurate than later conclusions, and that a discrepancy between the two is evidence of a cover-up, also suggests a conspiracy theory mindset.
You have to carefully characterize early reports. They usually include conjecture or misreported facts. Getting early accounts from witnesses is important because the longer you wait, the more narrative smoothing you have to deal with.
Saying that early reports are accurate and that later accounts that differ are evidence of a coverup is pure bunk. We generally get a better picture, more facts, and less conjecture later on.
Speculating early on that something went wrong with the bow visor is not entirely improper. First, if you know anything about that kind of ship, you know that's its weak point. And the witness testimony that emerged right away is consistent with that hypothesis. It's not irresponsible to say so. Second, the speculation is usually demanded by the reporter, not proffered by the expert. People want to know as soon as possible what we think went wrong. Left to themselves, the experts
wouldn't be publicly speculating. The sentiment is more, "Well, if you're asking me to give my best guess right now..."
That a subsequent investigation develops evidence and confirms the early hypothesis from among others doesn't mean that it was the only one considered, that the investigation was biased by it, or that someone directed the investigation nefariously to arrive at that conclusion. The way conspiracy theories work, you'd never win anyway.
"We initially thought it might have been X, and we did a thorough examination and determined that it was, in fact X."
→
"See! There was pressure from the beginning to make it look like X even before an investigation!"
"We initially thought it was X, but after a thorough examination we determined it was Y."
→
"See! They knew immediately it was X, but the Powers That Be got to them and made them say Y!"
The problem is with the few who behave like conspiracy theorists, not everyone else. This is why a second investigation won't silence the conspiracy theorists. They like it too much, and they'll just keep finding new ways to wallow in them no matter what the people say who know what they're talking about.
