I'm disturbed by the number of posters cheering the supposed death of a genre. Just because *you* don't enjoy reading a particular genre (whatever that may be - romance, science fiction, mystery, literary, etc) doesn't mean it is without worth. I read widely across most genres (I confess that westerns have never held my interest) and found that
Sturgeon's Law holds up pretty well.
To look at it another way, 10% is worthwhile reading. There are great stories to be found in any genre, which will often be the ones described as transcending the genre. To refuse to read an entire genre will leave you the poorer for it. I know people who won't read speculative fiction because it's "not real" [1]. So they miss out on some of the great spec fic works of our time. Some hold up a fantasy world as a mirror to ourselves, like Terry Pratchett's Discworld. Many SF - especially near-future SF - works explore big ethical ideas as well as scientific ones.
Romance, chick-lit and women's fiction all have their great works as well. Pride and Prejudice goes without saying, but there are others. Most works in these genres look at the nature of human relationships, both romantic and otherwise, which I think would be of interest to most people.
And finally, the 90% that is crud may not have long-term societal impact, but if it accomplishes its primary mission, to entertain the reader, then I count it a successful work.
PS I look forward to suggestions of good westerns to read...
[1] They didn't understand how "real fiction" is inherently an oxymoron.