Why work so hard on ‘technical accuracy’ in stories?

Does anybody care? For instance, I spent several hours yesterday calculating the fuel consumption of one of the fictional aircraft in the next book, and I know that many readers (and writers) would find this behaviour bizarre. What on earth does the fuel consumption matter? Surely characterisation and plot development are much more important!
Well, they are really. The only explanation I can find is that I love detail in stories, especially if it’s written by an expert on a subject. The way in which the detail surfaces in the story, often in a casual or subtle manner, helps one suspend disbelief and makes for a more immersive story. And the best way to have all this detail is to work it all through; even if maybe you don’t use it in one place, you might need to refer to it somewhere else.
In a science fiction setting, the writer has a great deal of freedom, including the ability to ignore or sidestep physical limitations. But I don’t think this is an excuse to be sloppy or inconsistent. If you’re going to have time travel, for instance, at least think through the fictional technology and how it might work. I have always liked the detail that Michael Crichton included in his stories - the research that Crichton did on the background material allowed him to create a believable technology (for instance, time travel in Timeline) and apply it consistently in the story, complete with issues and limitations that enhanced the story.