It is significant when anyone within the academic or scientific priesthood is forced to backtrack on something they said or wrote previously. These types will generally defend an untenable position like a wolverine defending a kill. The line “We never said that was a certainty” is the biggest @$$ cover maneuver in their playbook.
Here is another example of “attack, then later retreat” while finger-pointing and name calling while doing it:
This is the classic “move the goalposts” article—viciously attacking opponents then and now.
“Yeah, we f&^%ed up but you can trust us now!”