“The human genome is riddled with dead genes, fossils of a sort, dating back hundreds of thousands of years — the genome’s equivalent of an attic full of broken and useless junk.”
Genetics is very similar to climate analysis in that it is a field still in its infancy. As such we will be subjected to confident proclamations about what exactly this or that is or is not, only to be treated next week to new and equally confident proclamations that say something totally different.
As of this moment, I am not convinced that any DNA is “junk”. That is my opinion, and I am happy to have it proved wrong. So far, what passes for “proof” has been entirely unstatisfactory.
Ironically, it's somewhat common for this to be brought up in reverse when people question evolution: "Hey, just because evolutionary biology is too complex for you to grasp, doesn't mean that it's not correct."
Contemporary science seems to hunger for solutions. The solution may change tomorrow as new evidence is uncovered, but at all times we need a solution -- and those who question today's wisdom are apostates who must be shouted down.
Personally, I'd like science to be more of an on-going quest than a dogmatic position which must be defended against all comers.