Why, because there was sand?
I wonder how many folks in those polls even bothered to read the great literary works? Most of them seem satisfied with their little SF pills.
[big grin]
That and the names. I did read somewhere that Herbert studied desert ecology and desert cultures as research for the book. I just couldn't get into it. However, the popularity of Dune did put a couple of hundred bucks into my pocket. It was a mint condition Dune Encyclopedia that the flea market lady sold for just a buck. A few months later, some other flea market person offered me the same book for $10 and was shocked when I flipped out a ten-spot to pay for the book without any attempt to negotiate the price like about every other flea market buyer would have done.