I didn't like this story because it failed to contain any of the things I love about short science fiction, such as such as exploring new technologies, looking at how alien cultures may develop, how we may interact with them, how science presents us with perilous opportunities, the process of discovery, new phenomena, space travel, and much more.
This story could have been published in the 99% of places that don't focus on sci-fi, I very much agree with Praxis' comment: "If you have to spend that long explaining why you think a story is "science fiction", it probably isn't. As in this case."
And, I'm not sure I agree that the discussion about "sci-fi" or "not sci-fi" is worthless in the forums because the forums aren't just a place for fans to discuss. Rather, they are a valuable way for the editors to get feedback on their selections. If many people comment and say "not sci-fi," I hope the editors would think twice about running similar stories in Escape Pod. To just say "I didn't like it" and not explain why feels unfair to the authors of such stories, as I might have liked this story in a different context with different expectations.