The problem with the lab leak conspiracy nonsense is that all the nutjobs were saying it's an intentionally engineered bio-weapon unleashed by China to cripple the US and similar crazy stuff. Those voices you're saying "were right" are the entire reason it's so difficult to talk openly about the origins of the virus without sounding like a conspiracy nutjob.
No, they did not say that at all. This is an excuse while pointing at the most ridiculous argument. This sound you like to justify yourself because you were opposed to the theory, which still can be wrong of course.
There was no problem with the conspiracy nonsense, there were people who denied the possibility and maybe ask yourself about your part in that.
The problem for me is the general weakening of all institutional claims to legitimacy. We don't realize just how much of our society is built on implicit trust. Once trust is gone things grind at a snail's pace, or seize up altogether.
We have to trust credit card companies, banks, the postal service, the police, military, big faangs, et cetera. The individual hasn't the resources to deal with a zero trust environment.