Originally Posted by CraigCWB
Obviously, a dystopian "dark noir" seedy setting is something most of us would consider vital to the genre.
Yes, but the specific form that dystopian dark future takes is up to the author, is it not? JemyM thinks dystopia is the same as libertarian utopia, for instance.

The addition -punk is not to be forgotten. Punk is anti-establishment and anti-sophistication. Authoritarian dystopia's that presents shiny bright conditions and sophistication isn't punk.