I think this is more of the Anthropic Principle than a Space Whale Aesop. In other words, the guy's being chased so there'd be a plot, not because they think think nootropics are bad and show you via an unlikely scenario.
Warn before linking to TV Tropes! Does bad things when combined with akrasia!
Limitless is a movie coming out this Friday which includes nootropics as a major plot device. I think that the way they are portrayed in the movie, and the subsequent media discussion (if any) about nootropics would be of interest here, even if the movie isn't.
From what I can tell, the movie is about a guy who uses a drug to improve his mental capabilities, uses those to radically alter his life, who is then targeted because its just that genre of movie.
Just a heads up, if anyone is interested.