It's really annoying to be more curious than intelligent...I'm acutely aware that I don't understand most of quantum mechanics (or a dozen other fascinating fields) and probably never will, because understanding would require years of dedicated studying.

Puh, I've always felt I was alone in that I think that quantum physics is one of the most interesting topics in the world and that I'm too dumb to grok it. All people I know, who are too stupid to understand quantum mechanics, say things like " Oh, physics is not important, I rather read Hegel" or " The mind is irreducible and feelings, poetry and art are far more essential!". IMO many people hate or reject science since they don't want to acknowledge their own intellectual inferiority, which is particularly apparent in fields like math or physics. Whereas every mildly intelligent person can discuss Nietzsche, Schopenhauer etc. ( I admit that these guys indeed have some important things to say.) , and it feels so good to utter seemingly deep, vague, not falsifiable gibberish, because nobody can say that you've made a mistake. Hm, I guess this rant is already off-topic, and ceteris paribus it is good to read some philosophy but it really frustrates me that so many people find science boring, I simply do not understand this attitude...