It's not as if the scientific method offers any answers. In matters of proper use of language, argumentum ad verecundiam is all we have.
The structure of modern English has been static for a good two centuries, even in the US form. Abandonment of use of suffixes for past tense in favor of a false irregular verb transformation ought to be within society’s grasp to keep from happening.
Not to mention, I absolutely refuse to let the liberal media away with debasing the language, where I can.