I just realized, it's not a terribly effective strawman when what your Villains are saying would be fascinating and inspirational if they weren't saying it in such an exaggeratedly creepy manner.
Actually I kind of find the opposite is true. I mean think about it.
On one hand you have a bunch of guys saying that the evidence shows your intelligence stems from a pile of meat in your skull. On the other hand you have people saying we're all superpowerful alien beings who were downtrodden by an EVIL VILLAIN long ago and if we really want, we can get superpowers.
Now which of those looks like it was created out of nothing just to rope suckers? Who would say, "YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A BRAIN!!!" and expect to garner a cult?