I suppose that technology seems to allow the typical Culture citizen to enjoy a life of leisure and plenty without feeling bad about it, which probably appeals. (What actually happens when we have better technology probably looks more exploitatively dystopian! I'm reminded of the recent https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/gently.)

I picked up that Musk referenced Banks just recently in the Middle East, admittedly I don't know what he said because I also try to avoid donating him headspace. (-:

Banks probably fit quite well into his native Scotland, our generally being comfortably something to the political left of England though, yes, Banks also seemed left of most everyone who knew him. (-: