Hello,
You say:
“…if God wanted believers to see the Church as an institutional authority that houses infallibility,… then it goes without saying that this would be a primary doctrine that the Bible should address.”

But does the Bible not address this issue? You say that Matt. 18 was merely addressed to the Apostles, but if that follows, then I suppose you also think that the verses on church discipline (vs. 15-17) in that chapter only refer to the apostles as well, and therefore no church has the right to discipline anyone. Whatever you think, it’s a historical fact that the early church – I think the entire early church – believed those verses mean what at least the EO believe. And every council was convened on that premise. There were many debates over heresies, but the debate over apostolic succession never happened. A good church father to read on this issue is one of the earliest: St. Ignatius.

“From my perspective (and I think I speak with some common sense here), if God wanted believers to see the Church as an institutional authority that houses infallibility, either through the unity of the bishops or the ex cathedra statements of the Pope, then it goes without saying that this would be a primary doctrine that the Bible should address.”

The Bible does not address straightforward the doctrine of Trinity either. Is that common sense?

[...] if tradition is fallible, how do you know the biblical canon is infallible? Here is an excerpt from Part 6 — Apostolic Succession?: It is agreed that Peter and the apostles were given authority and the guidance to teach the truth. [...]