It's not self-defeating at all. The record clearly shows that rich companies delayed a science-based reckoning for decades, profiting greatly even though others

It's not self-defeating at all. The record clearly shows that rich companies delayed a science-based reckoning for decades, profiting greatly even though others were harmed and killed. The executives behind that strategy got more money and often retired happy. The "scientists" doing the shoddy science also got what they wanted. Did some of the issues eventually get settled on the side of truth? Sure, but with how much additional misery and how many graves? And how much time did actual scientists have to waste proving something wasn't every really in question? But we know the game goes on. And even if science statistically gets there in the end, there's no particular reason to think it gets there for absolutely every issue in a timeframe that matters.