I have no doubt that you have been thoroughly trained in the modern world of speculation — what you call extrapolation.
But how many times has our understanding FLIP-FLOPPED as we learn more?
All that extrapolation CHANGES periodically. We build the house of cards that you describe, come to conclusions, and then the whole house of cards comes tumbling down and we discover that things are very different.
Everything you describe is the process of formulating hypotheses that are waiting to be tested... if they can be.
The modern world of “science” has completely lost the humility that is central to science.
The logical positivists were about more than just trying to put science on a firm philosophical ground. They were also about relegating metaphysics and theology to the dustbin of history.
Notions that are unprovable scientifically, such as the existence of God, existence of souls, Christ's nature as both God and man, etc. would not pass muster with your logical positivist progenitors.