Thus Anti-Pop Neo-Traditional-Trans-Asian Gnosticism (AKA 'Zen')is pre-re-born. Contemporary contemplatives of the 'West' - beware the Zennist's contempt! ;)

A Zennist creates images of Zen.

Transcending is not ending...

"Pop Buddhism" (as you define it) does not deserve your mercy any more than it deserves you to treat it as 'canon' fodder. Enlightenment, equanimity. and compassion are inseparable. In that light your style comes off as a sort of "tough love" approach (with an honest directness needed to be clear) - but without the love. My only point of difference is that such labeling and contentious denigration essentially reflects the flip-side of same error you point out (superficiality/appearances), thus equally fail to apply the Buddha's teachings. The shadow you cast over others' practices (as worthless/misguided as they may be) in the spirit of 'Dark Zen' (mystical/core/whatever term you like), this focus on what is not that, being based on appearances, also fails. The Middle Path leaves no room to take sides.

Excellent post, right up to that last line. Given your clarity on this, it should be equally clear that "just sitting" can be an expression of the very weaning off religion you are talking about, or even a means of skipping all that entirely. This is not a promotion/defense of Soto, as I am not a poractitioner. There is simply just somthing that strikes me as curious in your outright rejection of it.

What can be pointed to that is not "suchness"? I enjoy your arguments, but they also seem circular to me, depending on a limited definition/interpretation of others expressions to then attack same.