Why is it that so many threads in this sub inevitably have a comment by someone with an FSO flair inferring that the OP is 'soft' for even asking whatever innocent question they're asking.

Probably because the fundamental question is bad. The foreign service, any government service for that matter is inherently political. It's political when they decide to expand or contract FSO hiring. It's political when one administration chooses one policy over another, and the idea that in any given year something is more political than the other is just kinda wrong.

Politics is baked into the cake in this job. For years I listened to conservative colleagues bemoan decisions by the Obama admin. When Trump took office it was the same conversations from my liberal colleagues.. Generally it's fun banter in a post cafeteria. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter when I'm shoulder to should in the safehaven after the DnC goes off.

I don't know. Also I wouldn't trust anyone's opinion just because they have FSO in their name. There's literally no vetting beyond the moderators.