On most points here I’m in complete agreement, the only nit I would pick is that there should be room for fun insights like this. Articles that wouldn’t hold up under academic scrutiny, and woe betide the fool who bases their life outlook on an Office-based theory, but are fun to muse about, and to overthink a little bit, as you say, over beers with friends.

How do we allow for work like that to be done? I would hate for this kind of silliness to be lost because it isn’t rigorous enough.

Besides, the very people who would take this seriously are the same people who aren’t actively thinking and applying insights on how society interacts in their daily lives anyway.