Sounds like the idiot started a debate, that’s for sure. I’ve been removed from reading academic papers for many years, but I can say that when I used to review papers, there was almost always a section where the researchers would put their thoughts about weaknesses in their study. This really seems like a lot of ado about nothing. Unless you’re some anti-science right-wing wacko, in which case your glasses make you see what you want to. Whether it’s there or not.