This seems to be a very common situation with programmers. When presented with evidence to the contrary, we all of us tend to respond in this sort of "it's wrong because it conflicts with my experience". You realize this is essentially the classic flat earther denial. I'm not picking on you: I've done it too. It seems to be an industry hazard.
I think there's a level at which you have to be willing to believe your own eyes over the consensus. And there are levels of how established the consensus is. Perhaps it's particularly common for programmers because the industry moves so quickly, so all of us can quote previous established wisdom that turned out to be utterly wrong.
