It is pretty obvious the "models" are guesses. There have to be a whole lot of variables that can't be account for accurately. One being human behavior...
Dr. Acton here in Ohio is going to detail what "modeling" means later this week. She's been extremely reliable through this.
And one thing she said today regarding modeling is precisely what you are referring to here.
Human behavior can mitigate scientific predictions because it is humans who pass the virus to each other. When there is less human contact, there is less spread, and when that is sustained over a long period of time, less people than predicted get sick.
It's not that hard to understand, IMO, if logic is applied.....