Babylon 5 was a bit better, the Shadows era stuff was quite good, much as the Dominion stuff for DS9 was good.
Babylon 5 had a slightly more accurate view of humans in space, including a large military/government presence. Star Trek on the other hand, talks about peace (the Federation) "We're all peaceful an that, prime directive an stuff", while having some sort of authoritarian-socialist hierarchy and their ships armed to the teeth.
On the other point, I wholeheartidly agree - people love to put other people in boxes, what you do, where you live, what music you like, what films you like, etc. etc.
As for Pop being the music of those that don't care... um... I don't think so. I would bet that a lot of people who listen to chart pop music wouldn't be so tolerant of metal or jazz for example.

That was the thing about Babylon 5 that I liked. The human race wasn't really the holier than thou almighty unified race which everyone else just admired. They were primitive, savage and just yet another player on the scene (obviously the human race got some special focus in B5, but not the level in Star Trek).
The primary thing that made B5 > DS9 for me was the story. I loved the whole Dominion arc, but I felt that sometimes they had too many "filler" episodes (Vulcans playing baseball... wut?) and then I'd lose interest to the point of where I'd be skipping past them on the dvds so I could get to the meat of the story. I had a much easier time with B5.
However the acting in DS9 far surpasses the acting in B5... jesus...sometimes I'd just cringe at the dialogue and its delivery (although the rivalry between G'Kar and Londo always kept me full of lulz). Oh, and the CGI in B5... well... they need some updating to be sure :)

Ah yes... the baseball episode. Things like that really spoiled things.
I would imagine that one of the reasons Battlestar Galactica has done better (more popular, more widely viewed) is the standard of acting.

It may not serve a purpose that is good for the medium in question. As far as it has a point, it's just pride; in this case, pride in being one of the cognoscenti, a cut above the rest. If the inferiors can enjoy something, it no longer serves the purpose of proving one's superiority.
When I was an undergraduate majoring in music composition, I was determined to create "art for art's sake." Who cared if no one understood it? I had important things to say! It finally dawned on me after a few years that there is little good in having something something to say if no one understands it or wants to hear it. Talking exclusively to one's self is not generally considered healthy.
Of course, I don't say any of this to excuse things that are genuinely bad. I agree with you that as long as the end product is of good quality, it shouldn't matter how many people like it; the more the better I say. I certainly don't define "good quality" to mean something is only appreciated by a select few or has lived up to some supposed legacy.

Since my topic was ignored I will post here...
http://i.gizmodo.com/5211593/star-trek-gets-ruined-in-80-ways-jj-abrams-could-never-dream-of
Yes. Even more ways it could fail.

I saw that earlier when you posted it in the other topic, I liked the beard ones, beards make the world a better place.

+1.
Star Trek movies follow a certain style. To deviate from that style and incorporate film making elements that break from tradition is blasphemy. Star Trek is sacred, and JJ Abrams is setting the altar on fire.

Good point.
This behaviour commonly has more to do with the need people have to feel they are part of something 'special' or that they are 'on the know' and the rest of the world is not (the superiority aspect you mentioned), than a real or objective concern regarding the actual quality of subject X newest/upcoming iteration.
That's why so called 'fans' are willing to bash subject X upcoming iteration, without little or no knowledge of what said iteration will actually look like, the moment they feel that there's a chance it will please the masses.
Typical sub-culture mentality that always has problems when their private 'world' is depicted in a such way that creates a chance for 'everybody' to enjoy and get in on it.
Games, movies, music, art, fashion, trends, it's pretty much all the same.
Everybody needs to feel they're somehow special and being part of a 'closed' or sometimes even 'secret' social/cultural network that the rest of the world doesn't get it's a way for many peolpe to achieve that.
At least that's why i attend the weekly meetings at my Sorcerers Guild.