I wasn't aware they'd made such great strides in the study of abiogenesis. Interesting.
This is probably because you don't spend much time researching the subject, I am a biochemistry major and I can assure you there has been much progress towards describing the processes that could have created life on this planet. There is very strong evidence to suggest that life exists outside our planet as well, for instance we have found evidence of alien bacteria on meteors that have landed in the artic. There is also a very good possibility that we will find such bacteria on Mars eventually. I think that we will find that life arises much easier that we ever thought. I think (an educated opinion) that bacteria can arise from amino acids in a variety of conditions. It’s interesting to note however that it very likely wouldn't arise in conditions (on its own) like we have on the earth today. The oxygen rich environment would hinder such growth. However this is a lot of evidence that the early environment on earth was NOT a oxygen rich and that the oxygen was produced by the evolving bacteria slowly over time.
I think this statement is rather bold considering how much we don't know.
There is much we don't know, but this is not to say that we don't have concise theories to describe most of the elementary process that go on here on the earth and in the universe. There will always be questions to be answered and more to learn, but that is not to say that we no nothing about how the processes work in the world today and we don't have any accurate theories to describe them.
Ever delve into Zero-Point Field studies?
No, I'm a biochemistry major, I do have a BS in physics but I never pursued research along these lines, however, I'm sure there are very good answers to the questions you asked.
Respectfully,
SoL