Ask people in 1641 if the world was flat, and without a doubt "yeah it was". But the point is scientists will ALWAYS speculate, its what keeps the field going, asking, declaring and doing stuff that make people scratch their heads. As far as dinosaurs with feathers, I could buy it considering there's alot wierder stuff here on earth currently that has ridiculous purposes (anyone watch that special on Earth with the wierd monkey that had the super long finger? god thad freaked me out)