I've reviewed the claims made by ID proponents and then I've studied the rebuttals made by the anti-ID crowd. Some of the ID advocates make some well-reasoned arguments that just have not been “thoroughly debunked” as claimed.
And let's face it—much of the passion of the Darwinists (in some cases) is motivated by a hatred of religion.
Belief in evolution shouldn't undermine belief in God—and I agree with that. But the rabid atheist crowd will certainly use evolution to proselytize for atheism.
So some of the extreme antagonism facing scientists who even consider intelligent design has nothing to do with the purity of science—it's motivated by a hatred of God.