Seriously, "I don't read fantasy, but I'm going to complain about it anyway!" was just not a worthwhile list. (Also, I now have Fred Savage's childhood voice in my head going, "Grandpa. Is this a pissing book?")

There are things I delight in but cannot predict I will delight in. When Daniel Abraham was coming out with a book with banking, I went, "EEEEE, banking!", and then it didn't have enough banking and I hope the sequel has more banking. What I want is for people to think about stuff in history like that, stuff that excites them and will be tidbit-y. Whether it's social implications of skiing (there are some! lots!) or of brass instrument manufacture, I like the author having some bits of nerdery popping up, and if I make my list, it'll be my nerdery; I want theirs.

I agree with you on monocultures, though, sigh. And I knew that a particular writing group was not the writing group for me when they objected to my future-people making salads, because, "I dunno, maybe they could have food pills or something? Something more futurey?" People in the past ate salads. People in the future will eat salads. Salads are good.