> I'm just interested in the undercurrent of why people seem to like this story

Nah, it's "holy shit radioactive cows causing single-event-upset!@"

It's the legend of the impossible to troubleshoot magical problem that actually makes perfect physical sense (even though it doesn't).

The communism-bad is merely an afterthought that adds a little more appeal to some people.

Indeed, my perspective reading this story... I need to teach a different group of students about SEU and SEL. The thought of radioactive cows from Chernobyl causing upsets is an absolutely "sticky" story that would make the idea of effects from ionizing radiation stay prominently in students' minds, and reinforce my position as a crazy teacher with students.

My reaction as I realized that it was BS and I couldn't justify using it was disappointment.