the "Sequences" are quite long and anyone who tries to argue is told to "read the Sequences". Anyone who disagrees even after reading the Sequences is often considered too stupid to understand them.

I have to disagree that this "smugness" even remotely reaches the level that is characteristic of a cult.

As someone who has frequently expressed disagreement with the "doctrine" here, I have occasionally encountered both reactions that you mention. But those sporadic reactions are not much of a barrier to criticism - any critic who persists here will eventually be engaged intelligently and respectfully, assuming that the critic tries to achieve a modicum of respect and intelligence on his own part. Furthermore, if the critic really engages with what his interlocutors here are saying, he will receive enough upvotes to more than repair the initial damage to his karma