How do we know that Einstein was basically right?

Do we rely upon the fact that, when he was working as a patent clerk and proposing strange new theories, he had already earned an undergraduate degree with at least a minor in physics?

Suppose that in America today, theories as revolutionary as relativity are developed, but the developer has merely understanding and no official academic credit. I'm referring to strange new theories, the kinds of theories that a theoretician might not receive a Nobel Prize for. After all, it wasn't for relativity that Einstein received his Nobel.

(Perhaps judges on highly prestigious award committees are afraid of something. Perhaps they're afraid of a crank who is very persuasive, or a practical joker like Sokal.)

Imagine an undergraduate student named Drystein who is trying to do something very good and unusual as his or her culminating project-based course, the project that will complete the final course required for a particular undergraduate degree. If the student works part-time as a patent clerk, and one hundred authors contribute to a book published with the title One Hundred Authors Against Drystein or one hundred scientists contribute to a book published with the title One Hundred Scientists Against Drystein, then would the student actually graduate? If the student graduated, then would the student be admitted to graduate school for studies beyond the undergraduate level?

Alternatively, would the student be vindicated only after his or her premature death, just like Ignaz Semmelweis?

The basic points are valid and the revolution in physics is a key example. Or observe Planck's idea that "science advances one funeral at time".