I agree that "experts" have much more information & are infinitely smarter in their particular fields of study than common folk.
But I think that real world situations & experiences within a commoners life mean more to them than anyone trying to place information into their minds.
I don't personally know anyone who has passed from covid although there are a couple friends of friends that have. Virtually everyone I have talked to has had covid & only a couple went to the hospital for fluids.
Now if there had been 5-10 In my sphere who had passed with another 50 having been in the hospital then I'd be 1st in line for vax & as many boosters as needed, I'd even cheer lead for mandates for everyone. But this particular virus just isn't producing that level of panic.
You hit on it early in your post, and if you will indulge me with an analogy, I think I can illustrate my position on this subject.
I am a decent "backyard mechanic" and can perform many repairs and preventative maintenance measures on my vehicles, without the aid of a "certified mechanic".
But know for a fact, that when there is something I can't diagnose, a recall, or something I don't have the tools and knowledge to deal with, I absolutely yield to those who do have the tools and knowledge to make the repair.
While I don't believe this virus is catastrophic to any one specific group or individual of our population, I do believe we had enough lead time to know that if measures weren't taken, many would have ultimately been denied medical treatment that could save their lives while they were left to die.
Do you want to be the one to design the protocol to make these "God-like" decisions, or prefer to conveniently fall back to political arguments of constitutionality, ultimately saying "my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" is more important than my neighbor?
I prefer to say I made the minimal sacrifices I could and did everything I could to help my neighbor and myself.