I’m not going to add on to your sources (or question them for that matter)
I will however take a guess at an Occam’s razor explanation:
IIRC the Gemara in Gittin refers to a few stories where the Romans interfered in certain traditions (such as chopping down a tree planted at childbirth intended to be used a a pole for a chuppah and using it to repair a wagon wheel)
Is it possible that defending ourselves from Roman oppression was perceived by the Romans as a reaction to Roman anti religious decrees?
Also, history is written by the victors.