I agree, which is why I am calling myself a skeptic and not a cynic. (Indeed, I avoid calling myself a cynic except when I'm being self-deprecatory.) I'm not sure if you misread me, or if you're saying the terms are similar enough to cause confusion.

I mean "skeptic" in the tradition of Carl Sagan, describing those who -- like researchers applying the scientific method -- base their worldviews on evidence and rational observation, and remain open-minded enough to adjust these worldviews accordingly should new evidence arrive... but not a moment sooner.

As Sagan put it, "One should keep his mind open, but not so open one's brain falls out."