I think one of the biggest problems these scientists are facing with this “scandal” is that the explanation is much more complicated than the attack.

The deniers can say “Hey! Look at this one email! They’re lying! See!” The scientists responses to those charges have been long and relatively complicated (because they need to be.)

For conspiracy-minded people who can’t wrap their heads around the details of AGW, and for those who have already made up their mind that AGW doesn’t exist, it is easier to take the “they are full of it” route. Changing those minds using somewhat complicated scientific evidence is a tall hurdle.