>See, the thing to me has long been that real life is already
>way, way too well-equipped with all'a that crap, so what do I want to
>go putting made-up hopeless frailty on my Rice Krispies for?

THIS. THIS RIGHT HERE. This is essentially why I just could not get into the new Galactica, for example-- no matter how well written/produced/acted it was, I just couldn't bring myself to wallow in the prevailing Hopeless Bleak Despair. I have no objections to other people enjoying this sort of thing, but it is Not For Me.