Ok- I see your point. But I still question the lack of discernment. Some of these red flags are so obvious a 10 year old could navigate them. I can't understand the naiveté of this ( and probably many other ) NO Bishops.
Strickland's currently a focal point for USA novusordites who are starting to notice coincidences, question the narrative, and start to think seriously about walking away from the blasphemous farce that is the conciliar church. It follows that anything that undermines Strickland's discernment also undermines all these other lay people. In demonic terms, he's a high value target even if, especially if, he's NO.