Legalism!
The Church's internal cancer.
Christian faith is determined by a person's relationship to Christ...not by what the person does...That's why the term "Christian" is applied to that person...their relationship to Christ.
Christ, when asked what would be signs of the last days, did not admonish or criticize his disciples for looking/thinking about such events. Jesus's first words in His reply were; "Watch out that no one deceives you..."...He did not say: "You guys...the REAL hallmark of one of my disciples is that they don't ask such elaborate end time scenario questions or look for "arcane" clues". No His first words were a warning of upcoming deceptions...as though they/we were to be aware of the coming times...and to "watch" for them. So, for you to say "REAL Christians" are the ones who do the work of the "Christian living" whist (implied)walking around blind to the current events around them is to lay a rather legalistic trip upon others.
Additionally, I find your use of the phrase "arcane clues" to be rather telling. The "clues" that Christians get their ideas from are the words of Christ and the inspired Word of God. For you to describe the words of Christ and the Bible as merely "arcane clues" reveals your lack of belief in Biblical inerrancy...and tends to indicate a liberal/allegorical interpreter of Scripture.
If, however, you actually believe the words of Christ, we are to "watch"...we are to be prepared...and yes, we are to be about the Lord's work...those in Judea are to be ready to "flee" when the time is right, and the only way they will know when the time is right to flee is because they are watching.
One's deeds prove one's faith. Faith without deeds is a dead faith. Since faith is a personal relationship with Christ, we must act on that relationship.
Christ, when asked what would be signs of the last days, did not admonish or criticize his disciples for looking/thinking about such events.
There is a difference between meditating on the Scriptural account of the endtimes and becoming obsessed with predictions.
Additionally, I find your use of the phrase "arcane clues" to be rather telling.
I don't know why it would be. There is a long history of charlatans who "find" in the Scriptures things that were never there to begin with and who use fanciful interpretations that bear no discernible relation to the actual text. The "Bible Codes" ridiculousness comes to mind.
The best preparation, as Christ teaches, is to go about our daily business in a godly way - not to draw up fanciful timelines and dodgy predictions.
Endtime obssession is a spiritual disease that distracts Christians from the real work they are called to do.