If you train yourself into a good scientist, either through academe or through doing things which are continuously tested against evidence, it becomes hard to believe in
'big ideas' books and essays. Unfortunately, the Internet and social media reward the 'big ideas' much better than specific nuanced expertise. Something that seems truthy and provocative to someone with no specific knowledge of the topic gets more shares, angry responses, 30 second clips on TV, etc. Its one of the simple pleasures you have to give up with education or experience, like getting a medical or paramedical education makes it hard to enjoy medical dramas.
For every romantic reactionary in classic American science fiction such as Poul Anderson there is an anarchist expat Esperantoist like Harry Harrison or a feminist such as Ursula le Guin.
Mystery and comedy are all about restoring the proper order of society, and romance tends to promote the romantic pair bond as the ideal way to live a life. So you could argue that popular fiction tends to be conservative.
Edit: Also, debates like "are organized sci fi fans self-important?" go on because they continue to be issues! But If you have heard the argument go back and forth 10 times, then an 11th version is probably not for you.
Edit: essay from 2015 which defines the fiction it is talking about
https://scholars-stage.org/fiction-and-the-strategist/