I do agree that most of these articles are picking on bitcoin.

I think the main problem people have is the actual result of the mining is useless, say compared to using all those computers for MI or Folding @ Home.

I think a better solution would be to get rid of these random bytes and replace them with a Folding @ Home or similar solution, where the computing power you donate results in you getting X bitcoin. Things that are a positive on society, rather then a negative.

But then again that is me being judgmental on others, maybe people care a ton about that string of random alphanumeric characters.