Oh I agree, just because there's more sidewall doesn't equal bad tyres, it just I like to er on the side of caution by going for a tyres with a wider contact point.
Specialized is going to release a new model in 28mm that also have wider contact point and less sidewall.
Cause the width of the rubber is exactly the same on both 24mm and 26mm, only difference is that 26mm have more exposed side wall.