i agree with the first part of your post that we should research our beliefs without twisting it to suit our needs but i disagree with trusting one scholar or alim for all guidence, remember the warning to ahle kitab in Quran ? their clergy will lead them to ruin as they change the religion of God.
furthermore the madhabs are a creation after 150-200yrs after the prophet, how can one be authentic and others not ?
its important to study from nonpartisan sources the origins of historical writings in islam seerah hadith rijal before we can pass a judgement on which madhab is right or wrong