The Question
Eternal
Am I too precious about what *I* think these characters are and how much of a stickler I am for continuity?
Not IMO. These people are selling a product, amirite? Moreover, they're selling a product people know and love and remember. A Picard continuation series was a reach for that nostalgia dollar. They're literally banking on people who remember and like this character and the franchise this character existed in.
That imposes a seller's obligation on them to actually deliver what it is they're selling. It's not even slightly out of line for you to expect to get what you're paying for. Me, on the other hand, I had every expectation that they'd fail and/or refuse to deliver, so I just pirated the thing. Keeping the deal fair, after all; if they're going to deliver only a percentage of the goods, they can have a percentage of the transaction -- the part where I watch for free and enjoy it inasmuch as I don't have to feel ripped off by paying for it.