Seriously, it's like the default setting of most normies is set to maximum trust. They just read something and immediately trust it. They are told something and they simply trust it. Just like that! Does not matter what exactly it is or how absurd or unbelievable it is. If said information comes from some percieved authority, they'll simply trust it!
Sure, after a while they might start to question some things, but the very default is immediate trust.
Other huge problem is the inability of masses to comprehend complex concepts. You can put all the information right in front of them and they still won't be able to understand anything. Even if they start to understand something, usually they revert back to fallback questions like: who are they, why would they do it, it's not possible for everyone to be in on it or - at the very least - it's simply not possible, because that can't be true.
Who needs censorship when the masses are so dumbed down and their thought processes are so inert that even given all the information sitting right in front of them they still seem to be completely unable to get it?
Yes, being right is a hell of a motivator and for some admitting mistakes or being wrong is almost impossible thing to do.
Also, I think it might be connected with my original post. Namely, that this is a question of blind trust vs critical thinking. Seems to me those Q folks operate mostly on trust and belief. It's just that they trust different authorities than mainstream normies, but the very mode of thinking is not that different. Normies trust and believe in mainstream media while Q folks believe in Q drops and their interpretation.
Or in other words, being on this side of the fence does not necessarily mean critical thinking is involved. Sometimes it's just a belief in different authorities than those on the mainstream.
My worldview also has changed dramatically over the last few years. Just as you say, almost my entire way of seeing the world has crumbled to dust and now I'm in a process of stitching together a new one. Is that easy or comfortable? Of course not! But I can't continue to live in illusions and pretend like nothing has happened either.