I don't read too much into it (Score 1)

I have to say that I don't think you can take these claims too seriously. People with non-mainstream beliefs tend to gravitate to new communications mediums because it is the only way to find other like-minded people. Witness the proliferation of neo-nazi and hate websites (NOTE: I am NOT equating paganism with nazism; I am just using it as an example). People in these groups have the impetus to undertake steep learning curves to spread their message or find other like-minded people. Look at all the strange stuff on CB and shortwave when they were new.

You won't find PTA groups and Boy Scout groups pioneering new communications methods simply because they already have a clearly defined communications infrastructure in place. Can you imagine a den mother giving a URL to other den mothers six-seven years ago? I don't think so. It's much easier to imagine a small group of people with non-mainstream beliefs finding a new way to talk to each other or evangelize their cause.

Finally, I don't think you can classify geeks as quasi-mystical. I would guess that, other than a shared interest in computers, geeks pretty much cut across the same demographic lines as most of America. Whether you are pigeonholing geeks positively or negatively, you're still lumping them all together.