I couldn't agree more and I would also point out that most "science-backed" articles are not truly science-backed at all, they are just footnoted with litterings from Internet research done in four minutes. Using a scientific study scrawl before and during every articles doesn't make it backed by science. It makes is marginally researched.

It's because of "publications" making these requests that there is such a problem. They don't actually want truly science-backed essay, they want essays that appear more grounded in something, over opinion, because they think it holds more value. Of course, that's not true. As you said, what touches us more, a well-researched listicle or a personal essay?

I rest our case.