This is great that you explained here. I have read a book "Keep you brain alive" it says how we are manipulated here and what we see is not our but we are following a line or a march of ignorant people to a hole which has no end, which you gave name "Rabbit hole" yea its true. And this book also covers how your brain works what you can do !!

the path seems one of randomness yet logical

yes mostly what we think is random, is not!! brain has lot of capacity. You figured that out yourself its marvelous you must be a great critical thinker!