notpashut,
I’m well aware of the argument you put forth. It’s a compelling one. But it is not born out by the majority of primary sources. I refer to you Lawrence Kaplan’s article, Daas Torah: a modern coneption of Rabbinic Authority, on the subject published in Rabbinic authority and Personal Autonomy (Moshe Sokol ed). I suggest you read it. I do not negate that gedolei Torah have very important and edcuated opinions on non-Halachik issues. I don’t discount the importance of seeking out those views. But I completely reject the notion that those points of view are authoritative the way Halacha p’suka is authoritative.