ID is part of a field of study. It's strength (or not) lies in the operative inference. Works the same for scientific thinking on evolution.
ID is a part of a sham. I am sorry... there may be different ways to interpret the fossil records, but ID isn't one of them.
ID does not rely on the scientific method. ID also says the laws of physics are insufficient to govern the universe and all interactions and phenomenon in it. ID contradicts science in that regard and then introduces and inserts arbitrary forces to account for the phenomenon. Those arbitrary forces are not subject to study by the scientific method also. Most often they take the form of a fleeting existence.