Not always (Babylon 5 was brought up earlier). But essentially, you're right, the criticisms I have trace to these things. But that doesn't mean I can't level the criticisms! For crying out loud, if I took this "defense" of yours seriously, I'd never be able to criticize a single TV show, movie, or any other piece of art ever again.
"It's created by humans. Humans mess up" is not a universal defense of art. I realize humans are fallible but nevertheless we can and do judge their output. So, you have "defended" BSG by saying that because they're only human, altered-plans and changed-minds were somewhat inevitable. Well, all this really does is concede my point, which is precisely that BSG contains many elements that seem to be the product of changed premises, altered plans, and changed minds.
That is a strike against it in my book. It would be better if BSG did not have these features.
Even if things are "a little contradictory", that doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable television program.
It actually does lessen the enjoyability for me, and for anyone who values these things in fiction (and especially in sci-fi). I agree that it doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable, just that it's less enjoyable than I believe it would have been had they remained consistent and thought out the story arc better.
So I guess I'm missing your point.
Yeah, I guess so....
Babylon 5 is a great example. They changed captains not because that was intended, but because the buy who played Sinclair ended up having the charisma of a bologna sandwich on camera. So yes - even in the best of series premises change, plans are altered, minds are changed over the course of several years. Maybe Babylon 5 responded to those changed premises better, maybe not.
I think the criticisms you have raised barely rise above the level of nitpicking (except the whole “Cylons can plug into computers”, which was stupid then and remains stupid now). The points in the show which are contradictory are by and large minor.
Not to mention that you’ve been factually wrong with some of your other criticisms, leading me to believe that you rather enjoy finding fault with the program. Which is cool - you’re not alone in that.