But I appreciate the high quality of discussion that intelligence can bring to a topic many of us don't understand.

Who really understands how meltdown and spectre work without asking? Smart people ask questions, and like answers. Add wisdom, and you can appreciate answers that challenge your own biases.

[edit: clarification]

It doesn’t of course, but it seems reasonable to hope that people (particularly “smart” people) would try and support arguments/suggestions with data.