I think Einstein's boldness came somewhat from his academic independence. Being a patent investigator, his livlihood did not depend on what he published. So he had complete academic freedom.

I've for example talked and worked with rather well known physicists, one of whom won the Nobel Prize, and in our private discussions they are entirely free thinkers on things like religion and science, admitting that almost anything could be true given today's physics. But you will never see anything of that sort in print. It's not politically correct and puts their reputation at risk.

Except for retired Emeritas physicists. They are much more bold in print. The last good example of this tendency is Watson,of DNA fame, who is now lecturing on the relationship of sexuality and skin color.