I can see what you are describing with Pluto. But I am reasonably confident that we'd not be seeing that reaction if the discovery of new planet-like lumps of r

I can see what you are describing with Pluto. But I am reasonably confident that we'd not be seeing that reaction if the discovery of new planet-like lumps of rock similar in size to Pluto was described as "new planets discovered" (you seem to hint at that too): it's more of a reaction to change for the sake of change in their opinion ("let's redefine what a planet is, making Pluto not one anymore"). I think it would be comparable to us saying that something which is now ingrained is redefined (eg. think about saying "Zero/0 is not a number" anymore). Research pointing in the other direction in regards to serif vs non-serif type is not the same: it is measurable objective fact (even if riddled with methodological constraints and issues).