brantgoose: SF short stories seem to be firmly in the moralizing, predictable "idea" line established well before The Twilight Zone and its emulators.

that's why a writer would choose to employ science fiction.  science fiction is a proper vehicle to explore philosophical issues of etymology, metaphysics, certain ethics, etc.  it allows the writer to avoid certain obstacles to his vision by simply ignoring modern constraints on communication, technology, etc.  they get to jump straight to the bottom of the slippery slope and slosh around with impunity.

similar, but contrasted to fantasy, which is much more frequently dealing with ethical concerns about good and evil.  because the vehicle makes those concerns easily identifiable and polarizing.

keep in mind, the little world created is the least important thing.  it's the writing that matters.  now, for you, they have failed because you cannot suspend your disbelief.  that's fine.  that's why a lot of people think fantasy and sci-fi are simple forms of expression, because they remove the real concerns of existence to expose only those limited things the writer wants to deal with.  others think this very fact makes sci-fi and fantasy a superior expression for being concise and exploratory, like the philosopher's thought experiment.  why deal with reality when a hypothetical creates a much more addressable metaphor.

ultimately, some artist's depiction of aliens is immaterial to the story.  now, it may have had an effect on disbelief, interest, and other things, like our notions of what fictional aliens looks like, but that's like arguing whether hobbits have hairy toes or not.  not very interesting, aesthetically.

why do you think homer let odysseus go all crazy out there in fantasy land?  it let the poet address specifically issues of horrible nature (cyclops), drug abuse (lotus eaters), sexual issues (calypso), post traumatic stress disorder (the homecoming party), without having to get as touchy feely as he had to in the Iliad.

s2s2s2: Yeah, but we made up religion so atheists would have something to blame besides human nature!

And now we are writing hopeful little requests for intervention, help and guidance to powerful "aliens" in the sky that don't exist.

Just another side of the same coin.

Hey aliens, you go the same stuff we do?

Run and hide, because the monsters are coming - the human race.