(Just one quick point. Or two.)
Tacit, I don't dismiss any genre, but if it doesn't interest me, I'm not going to read it. My complaint, and it probably applies to all genres, is that authors are getting lazy. Whereas past writers took the time to create and describe an atmosphere to create a sense of a specific time, now authors feel they can just toss in a few brand names, and that'll be enough. For me, it's not. This is as lazy as movie makers thinking a bunch of CGI effects will replace good plots and solid characters.
As for prizes, other genres do get noticed (ie, that whole "magical" South American genre). Plus, there are other prizes for specific genres (ie, Edgars for mysteries). If they don't get the same kind of notice as the Pulitzers, I think the prize-awarders deserve some of the blame for that.
