Pretty much. Particularly regarding government lies, spreading the conspiracy theory might have been a dodge regarding another thing - massive corruption around the early Space Shuttle program (which everyone forgets began around the time of the final moon flights). Fact is, the Shuttle never fulfilled its designated purpose - cheap transport to low-earth orbit - yet managed to bury billions in spending, along with over a dozen human casualties of designer hubris and management incompetence. It was a criminal flop through and through, needing a quick change of subject - so, how `bout them moon landings, huh? Something fishy going on there, that's fer sure. Never mind the Shuttle, it can wait, just keep looking at the moon, that's a good boy.

All in all, as with most crimes, government lies also tend to involve money first, pragmatism second, nebulous nefarious plans last, if at all.