Maybe because PKD could actually write? Heinlein, Pohl, and Anderson have interesting ideas but none of them can do character development, emotion, depth, etc. PKD instantly draws you in with fully formed characters in a world you can connect with emotionally.
Le Guin is a great author but I struggle to engage with her characters. Brian Aldiss I think does better? And Vinge? This is sticking to the classic era. The genre has changed and there are too many more recent excellent SF writers of character to do justice to in a post