anecdotes are data.

they can be used to prioritize resources to create the real study, and they are the crux of our evolutionary selection thus far.

when the former is not available, the latter has been pretty reliable for self-preservation even if the "why" isn't apparent or is completely made up conjecture.

there is no utility in lecturing on anecdotes when the complete scientific mindshare of planet is looking in different directions that may be just as irrelevant as the anecdote.