This sort of point-by-point refutation is the same sort of thing that would happen in a church that was trying to defend against allegations of cultyness.
I don't think lmm's list of reasons was utterly compelling -- good, but not utterly compelling -- but I don't think it would matter if it were a perfect list, because there will always be a defense for accusations of cultyness that satisfies the church/forum.
It is more interesting watching it happen here vs. the church IMO because LW is all about rationality, where the church can always push the "faith" button when they are backed into a logical corner.
At the end of the day, it is just an online forum. But it does sound to me (based on what I can gather from perusing) like there are a group of people here who take this stuff seriously enough so as to make cultyness possible.
I'm sure the "LW/cryonics/transhumanism/basilisk stuff is so similar to how religion works" bit got old a long time ago, but Dear Lord is it apparent and fascinating to me.
This sort of point-by-point refutation is the same sort of thing that would happen in a church that was trying to defend against allegations of cultyness.
Ah, the perennial dilemma of how to respond to an accusation of cultiness. If one bothers to rebut it: that's exactly what a cult would do! If one doesn't rebut it: oh, the accusation must be unanswerable and hence true!
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.