There can be (and have been) bad popes and the theoretical possibility exists that a given pope is not a legitimate occupant of the See. One would not want to blindly obey either of these.
I agree. That's one of the reasons I'm not Catholic.
But for those who choose to be Catholics, that choice includes obedience. And from the Catholic Church's point of view, IF "a given pope is not a legitimate occupant of the See," the clergy will let the laity know, and what to do about it. Otherwise, it is the role of the laity to obey - period. And because the clergy is watching over them, the Catholic Church does not consider this "blind obedience," but rather humility, discipline and obedience before God.
It ain't a democracy, and it doesn't pretend to be.