OK I know Byrne religiously believes in looking after minutia he thinks should be respected and remembered, and believes that various aspects of comic books are shown little respect in the media, but I don't see this as being wrong or tight assed. Just his own thing.
I personally disagree with him, I don't care what others call things I like, because it shows deficits upon their part, and, frankly don't find much power in things others say about things I like. But the common person does. And I think if everyone thought of comics as shit, whether or not they were, the perception might be easy to accept more than the reality. Unfortunately, that is part of the culture of herd instincts, if it is popular, it is good, if the herd doesn't like it, it must be shit.
On the other hand, I think super heroes while fun are kind of silly when you think about it, and understand where media gets calling super heroes as wearing underwear or long johns.