Stars & Gripes
Why do we have to be in a dichotomy?
All sci fi nerds are not created equal.
Some of them want more fantasy RPG style space battles and magical "force" moments packed into two hour segments that get mercilessly pimped out and then bought up by Disney to get even more mercilessly pimped out with Baby Yoda plushies.
Some of them want more technical exploration and character development/drama sprinkled with social commentary that wavers between selling itself out with gratuitous violence/sex and redeeming itself with deeply philosophical writing that keeps the fans constantly disappointed yet still willing to throw money at it.
Some want both - for the reason that these are completely divergent yet no less complimentary universes that scratch two separate yet still valid needs.
If you think one has to be better than the other, then you're probably the same type of poor soul who hasn't realized you can actually like cake and pie without fracturing the space/time continuum.
Mainly because they're both side dishes to the main attraction - ice cream - much like this query is just a distraction to the true sci fi series - Firefly - which, due to the fact it didn't get pimped out nearly as much as these other two franchises, just further shows how superior it really is as a series / space opera / best of all worlds.