>We're deep in an era where "finance cosplay" is a thing.
I feel the same way. It's so frustrating. I try to read and learn and then just hit one of "wait those numbers don't add up", or "this reads like the author just learned about this thing too" and other strange logical leaps time and again.
It is hard to really learn anything.
learn what you can verify more objectively instead: mathematics, physics, chemistry