There's a lot I can relate to here... and also some things I disagree with. I read a lot of these same authors as a bored and slightly alienated Gen-X teenager, and agree with a lot of what the OP says about their appeal. Network TV and pop radio offered a limited range of perspectives, attitudes, philosophies, and role models. There were hints of a more anarchistic, rebellious attitude that one could find on TV, but it usually required staying up late (eg. to watch David Letterman). Or one could buy cassettes by bands like The Smiths, to get a more off-kilter take on the traditional themes of pop. These authors fulfilled a similar function. However, I do think it's a bit unfair to lump them together like this, because they were as different as they were similar, and I disagree with the author's view that one should outgrow them.