> if there's a fundamental distrust (or even disrespect) of software engineers as domain experts.

Physicians enjoy a similar problem. Everyone goes to Dr. Google an then brings their misunderstandings to the clinic. Anything goes wrong, it couldn't possibly have been the fact that the patient was a brittle diabetic with hypertension. It must be the care they received in the hospital after they had a heart attack while driving and ran into a tree. Nor is anyone else in the hospital possibly making mistakes. Clearly it's the board-certified physician who doesn't know what they're doing.