I'm reminded of a comment someone made about a year after Trump was elected. Something along the lines of "when Obama was pres I didn't have to think about politics but I do now with Trump." I think the biggest appeal of neolib status quo is, not having to think about the state..
That's what they mean by "didn't have to think about politics" - either they're one of the religious nuts or they are more comfortable if you don't agitate the religious nuts by pointing out reality to them