Sarcasm is an adjusted stress reaction.

There's a strong implication that the Kinda are part of a culture that cycles from primitive to technological to primitive again (that whole "wheel turns" schtick), and right now they're in the primitive phase. Only, since they've got that whole nifty race-memory mystical thing, they remember bits of the technological phase. Or at least enough to maintain symbols from it.

(Butting in, because I adore "Kinda" and can go on slightly short of forever about it....)