editYou actually did say that right here.
by your definition virtually all fantasy settings are just soft science fiction.
have you considered that a scientist spending a few days looking at a carving on a wall might have misinterpreted the info ?
You can whine all you want but some talked about science some talked about magic
since the vast majority of mythos magic cannot be empirically tested it must then not be science
how is Gandalf ability to use magic tied intrinsically to his nature any different than any of the powerful god of love craft?
were arguing around in circles and I no longer care to do it.