This thread gets relaunched by another poster every few months. The same comments appear, and there is nothing that helps to resolve the observed lack of respect that is part of the reaction to “Daas Torah”. It is not about degrading Gedolei Yisroel, nor is it about examining the historical roots of “Daas Torah”.
We have many issues in which practical problems are involved. The questions involve matters of science, human behavior, etc. We once had a Rambam who could derive all these forms of knowledge from the Torah. We lack that today. For all intents and purposes, we cannot reliably identify any individual as a purveyor of Ruach Hakodesh. The best we can hope for is an educated opinion from someone steeped in Torah knowledge. This is not so easy when it comes to matters that require a different body of knowledge. There is other information. Reb Moshe Feinstein ZT”L was asked countless questions about matters of science and medicine. He turned to scientists to gain better understanding of the subject before issuing a psak. Reb Shlomo Zalman Auerbach achieved the status as expert in Hilchos Shabbos regarding electricity. This was after hundreds of hours spent learning from electrical engineers and electricians. To rely on some Divine source of information on practical matters is erroneous. I do not deny that Gedolei Yisroel might merit forms of Divine communication. But we cannot rely on that. Today’s world is non-prophet.
I tend to disregard the opinions from rabbonim about scientific matters until I know they have developed expertise in the subject. I continue to respect them, for they possess far greater realms of Torah knowledge that I expect to reach. The questions posed to them need to reflect the expectations of what we can do with their responses.