Geeks like to make "minimum assumptions," and then work everything else out from those. For example, the Minovski (or however you spell it) Particle is the only real change you need in physics before Gundams start looking like a good idea. If the emergent properties of the world, as shown through the work, cannot be deduced from the single "axiomatic" change, then the movie feels "wrong" to most people, whether they can bring it into their conscious mind or not.