Clark and co. would have to be competent heroes... or something.

I absolutely believe this is the reason. But argh. Bad writing! Bad writing! No biscuit!

I wish, just once, Clark actually had gotten strapped to a lab table. It would've made his fears the least bit believable. Hell, I wish there had been an ep that Lex found out Clark's powers and betrayed him. Rather that protecting him with everything he had, even without fully knowing the story. It's hard to fully take Clark's side when all evidence points to Clark being in the wrong about that call...