A) This is far closer to the truth. It wasn't that they were embarrassed to like star trek, they didn't like getting pigeon holed into being a certain way because they liked something. Back in the day there was a real connotation that a trekkie was someone who was unwilling to grow up. There was also a vague impression that trekkies were often more similar to modern day incels than anyone else. Not necessarily the people who had the best attitudes towards humanity/women. Especially when they had stockerish behaviors, and catsuit photos all over their walls.
B) Geek culture today isn't what it was in the past. Being a geek use to mean you had an interest in a topic with little concern for the social context of their interests. If you were the only person you knew interested in a topic you simply didn't care what other people thought. Nowaday's the best comparison is of someone who is religious in an environment of atheists. You went against the grain because you compelled by something. Nowadays it's basically the opposite, a lot of people are into nerd cultural because it's so socially endorsed. Avengers is the new superbowl.
C) It's not clear geek culture is at all healthy, escapism is great in small doseages, but when you only return to earth to work your job(if you even have one), it's really not healthy. Before video game/internet addiction became such a problem, it was better understood that one should exercise and interact in person with people more frequently, nowadays some people don't even remember a healthier lifestyle being a thing.
D) People forget how consumerist certain trekkies use to be. The kind of blind fanaticism where anything stamped with the brand was something you should buy, never being critical of the product, seeing it as a pure product to be consumed instead of art to be explored. You see this with the modern star wars craze. People who don't care how absurd baby yoda underwear is, they feel they must chase it to get a cheap consumerist dopamine kick.
Yes I am an internet addicted escapist trek fan I live a lifestyle that is killing me, but I don't feel I'm dogmatic about my fandom, star trek isn't perfect and buying into something just because of the brand is foolish. However, I really see Disney as being the modern embodiment of a consumerist trend little different from people watching the superbowl for the commercials.
