Yep, maybe you’re right..
I know what you mean.
I think it’s possible to love and hate Dune (all media) at the same time. Some parts of the film were bloody fantastic, The series, though boring in parts was good for breadth and the books are very well written and provide much of the story which you seem to be missing.
Some of the more intellectual SadGeezers like yerself (with the greatest respect) can read too much into a TV series that is (frankly) aimed at teenagers. The making of the film was a saga all unto itself with murder, mystery and intrigue and personally, I really only liked the first two books.
But together, they all seemed to complement. There was stuff in the film that I just couldn’t see in the books and the series had boobs in it!!!! Did you miss that!!! 
But I take on board all your comments and on the whole, I agree. I guess enthusiasm for a well scopedpiece of Sci Fi can only take me so far before I start to get board.
(wow! This spellchecker is great!)