Any criticism got met with “Well, what have you done with YOUR life?” or “How many children have YOU given sight back to?” So as obvious as it seemed to those of us that saw it immediately, most people see a guy seemingly doing something good and become blind to the rest of it.
Compared to what they’ve accomplished by getting some plexiglass wet, it seems like sitting on my couch has accomplished the same. Maybe more by staying home, unless they rode bikes or walked to do the deed.