I agree with all you said, and am irked most by the above. Reminds me of this exchange from A Man For All Seasons. The issue was Sir Thomas More not affirming the King's marriage anulment. The Duke of Norfolk was the King's lackey.
Sir Thomas More : I will not take the oath. I will not tell you why I will not.
The Duke of Norfolk : Then your reasons must be treasonable!
Sir Thomas More : Not "must be," may be.
The Duke of Norfolk : Oh, it's a fair assumption!
Sir Thomas More : The law requires more than an assumption, the law requires a fact.
IANAL or an English major, but I think More was correct. But it didn't save him from beheading.