The difference being that along with the internet spread of fake conspiracy theories, comes the internet ability to quickly Google up the source and check.I have an opinion that the modern conspiracy theorist is a continuation of the religious superstitionist of the past. It's the same thing.
Wikipedia etc, mean there's no need to go to the library and run down documents; it takes only a few minutes, sometimes only a few seconds.
Laziness. Thinking isn't easy, it's hard, because it takes a bit of effort, imo.
But as you say, there's also a willingness and a need to believe what we want to believe.