I think the general public views them with envy/elitism, but then the general public does that with a lot of stuff.

It's potentially a decent social club, providing yet another venue where there's a 2% chance of meeting that special someone.

Or if you're stuck in a blue-collar job, or a massive dumb corporation, then it can give you a chance to associate with others who are every bit as clever as you. Intellectual stimulation and all of that. Sounds bad on paper, but it could be rewarding in real life.

I never joined up, but I do associate with a particular ring of friends (aside from this BBS) where many of the participants would probably score high enough to qualify.

Cheers