but that doesn't do anything to address the question of why isn't anyone showing an interest in the explanation. (...) It's the way everyone seems to be treating Gen Hope as though they're nothing out of the ordinary that brings this whole uncomfortable Stepford Wives vibe to the story.

oh, totally. i agree with your post from start to finish. everything involving generation hope smacks of laziness. it reads like crappy filler to me, which is why i think they thought about the events (introduce hope, hope will be used in X future event like this and that), but not what they'd be doing to the character in between these events.

i think hope is less of a character and more of a gimmick.