[dr_who_2]

Lemme guess. Next episode will feature a an alien who has the power to magically cause the regular characters to change genders. Or there's a planet that's ruled by an evil corporation, blah, blah, blah... There are people who like science fiction because the fantastic is a great change of pace. There are others who seem to like it because realistic storytelling is just something they're not capable of understanding or liking. And then there are those few who both like science fiction and are interested enough in science to understand it. Some of them actually wrote some halfway decent science fiction.

[GOP Jedi]

Next episode will feature a an alien who has the power to magically cause the regular characters to change genders

At least we'd have Starbuck and Boomer back. (Meh...)

[namvetcav]

While you cite several important reasons folks like sci-fi, Dr. Who 2, some of us just like the concept of a gentleman who can live about 900 years, have about 8 different personae, own a time machine and travel around the universe with a selection of cute and spunky British teenage girls who generally need a little discipline and training in life's complexities. Scientific speculation is interesting, but I think it will always be the fictional "hook" in the story, the dream or the nightmare, - that's the thing that creates a fan.