Sci fi trappings are often added when an author can't sell a story to the slicks (Ted Sturgeon is no stranger to this phenomenon, much to our genre's benefit).

This was a "funny" story that could have been lousy, but was actually a lot of fun.

I'm in the middle of the April Galaxy, and it's definitely a cut above. Gold is saving the gems for his baby. We'll see if IF slinks permanently into the weak sister role. I hope not!