If you have read Smolin’s and/or Woit’s books arguing against string theory then please read Duff’s response here.
Duff’s “String and M-theory: answering the critics” is quite accessible and does a good job explaining why people are interested in string theory, both from a physics and mathematics point of view. One major point he makes is the unfair coverage of “anti-string theorists” and works that are wrong.
For example, Lisi’s theory of everything based on \(E_{8}\). This theory is mathematically wrong, it does not describe the correct matter content of the universe. Also, the use of the exceptional groups in theories of everything, including string theory pre-dates Lisi’s work. I would say that the media and the “blogosphere” was too quick to hail Lisi’s work and too slow in pointing out the errors.
Duff also points out how quickly the attacks on string theory become personal attacks on string theorists.
Is it important that the general public has a reasonable understanding of string theory and supports such reserach?
I would have to say yes.
Not that science or mathematics is a popularity contest that will be won via the general media, it will be won via peer-reviewed papers. However, the general public pays for almost all fundamental science research and thus it is vital to keep the public on board. There will always be speculation, disagreements and conflicting points of view in science at the frontiers of our knowledge, but this should not devolve into personal attacks. This only weakens the position of science in wider society.
String does have many attractive features and seems to be our best hope at understanding the Universe. The best response to the critics is come up with an alternative!