Or the physicist who worked as a low-level railroad operator.

I hate that most of the detractors of Atlas Shrugged misread the message. There are things to criticize, but the ones that do get criticized (Ayn Rand is a Nazi, she ignores the common laborer, she dares include a pirate as a character) are the ones that don't really matter regarding the main theme/are entirely wrong.

"I hate that most of the detractors of Atlas Shrugged misread the message."

You assume they read it at all.

There is a famous scathing review by Whittaker Chambers (of the Alger Hiss controversy) that later got accusations that he'd never read it.

Some people who criticize Atlas Shrugged obviously have read it to at least some degree. They may have been skimming, or they might not have had an open mind, but some of the points are always satirisations of some parts of the novel.

Occasionally it's done well. Usually it's just a waste.

I thought Rand put that physicist there to show how a society with what were in her view the wrong priorities misappropriated talent.

She does, yes, and it's said that it's a waste of talent for Galt, but the job itself is not considered offensive. Galt doesn't get shown much because he's in hiding, but the philosopher gets a few paragraphs describing how relieving it is, his ability to make good food. It's a sign that there are still people who take delight in what they do.

Or the part where Dagney cooked and kept house for John Galt as repayment for her staying with him.