Tbh in some ways I have more respect for the Rationalists who get freaky with it than the ones who just go off measuring brainpans or whatever. If you're gonna go mad, go mad in style, you know?

One minor quibble I have is with your characterisation of the people who join these cults as "convinced of their own inadequacy". I'm sure that's true for some of them, but humility is not generally a quality I associate with the Rationalist community. In fact, I think for many cults the appeal is that someone claims (at last!) to recognise how *special* you are - so special, in fact, that you get to join the special club for special people who know the Real Truth about the universe. That's a powerful draw, especially for someone who already has trouble relating to others.