Means testing appeals to people who believe the current system is fair, or so close to it it will be with a few tweaks. They don't care to know that it normally costs more than it saves while decreasing provision. They just want to believe the world is fair.

Universal programs have more political staying power If you don’t like wealthy people benefitting, you just tax them more

They’re desperate to keep from acknowledging how their privilege (whatever that looks like, money, lineage, skin tone, etc…) affords them opportunities most in this world will never see, because of them and their indifference.