The chilling effect is real.
What has likely also played a part: at-will employment and blacklisting.
We also seen how the public was trying so hard to blame the pilots so I could see how most of the public would defend Boeing and FAA since they had a very good reputation and they would ask for some unreasonable proof(one airplane crash was not enough so it is clear the proof would have to be extreme for something to happen).
To me it seems Boeing is still fully at it. They never changed their narative from (I'm paraphrasing here)
"There was a slight technical problem, which may have been a tiny link in the chain, which would have been no problem at all if those planes would have been flown by competent Murrican pilots and not badly trained third world dolts."
I see this argument pushed forward on discussion boards and social media (including HN) and can't rid myself of the impression that Boeing employs sock puppets to push such bullshit.
The arrogance of this company, which literally kills people, to me is beyond comprehension.