I still find it shocking and terrifying every time someone compares the morphing of human values with the death of the universe. Even though I saw another FAI-inspired person do it yesterday.

Agreed.

for this is the single most dangerous idea in the LessWrong memespace; the one thing rotten at the core of the entire FAI/CEV project as conceived of here

Yes, this (value drift -> death of the universe) belief needs to be excised.