Caledonian, you may wish to reconsider who's failing to listen to whom. Epiphenomenalists are well aware that phenomenal consciousness, as they understand it, plays no causal role in the world. This is indeed obvious. What's not obvious is that it's a fatal "flaw" in their view. You have a "strong conviction" that it is. Good for you. You still haven't said anything that's news to those you disagree with. Repeating common knowledge in a triumphant tone does not constitute an argument.

"the very smartest people have a hard time finding people capable of seeing through the arguments they make..."

Eh? You forget that top academics get positions in top departments, and so spend much of their time conversing with the other very smartest people around.