Those can be some of the factors, depending on the people. Another reason for reading "focus point" works of fiction is that they give you a common topic to talk about. This is true for Cult Classics as well as for Great Classics.

One can thus read fiction for two social reasons; their value as a simulator of interesting and dangerous situations, and their value as a conversation piece.

Ambiguous works that invite a lot of alternate character interpretation or a lot of symbolism are especially appropriate, whether it be Hamlet or Neon Genesis Evangelion; you make the audiences care about what happens, and then you leave them homework (an exercise to the reader).