The above is explaining three semantically similar statements with different connotations, in decreasing order of prevalence. In the early twenty-first century, native English speakers would understand the connotations implicitly, and would not need the detailed explanation of the above, which draws from the pattern.
In all cases, these statements serve as the prologue to some correction for a mistaken assumption, as explained above.
In the first case, the word "easy" is used to emphasize that the mistake is common, natural, and understandable, and that there is no shame for being mistaken on the given matter of topic. This is a very common turn of phrase.
In the second case, the word "tempting" is used to emphasize that the mistake is born out of some desirable motive. The biases that caused one to form the mistaken assumption as potentially sympathetic to the corrector. This is an less common, but known, turn of phrase, implying a harsher critique.
In the third case, the word "comforting" is used to emphasize that that the only reason someone is making an assumption is because they are coddling their own biases, even though any attempt at thinking things through would prove it irrational. It is the equivalent of accusing someone of sticking their head in the sand, like an allegorical ostrich. "Read for filth" is an idiomatic expression meaning to offer full, unfiltered criticism of something, ripping it apart. This is even less common to use, but the point would be understood as being a prelude to the harshest criticism of the three.
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