I guess it depends on whether or not the authors involved believe that the merits of an entire group of writers are being systematically overlooked (by publishers, in this case; editors and readers in others) because of unconscious biases and/or a long-standing cultural perception that SF is by men, for men. For example.
But this isn't actually about the authors' reaction to the cover: since this is purely a marketing consideration, the only reaction that matters is the readers'.
Re: The real answer
But this isn't actually about the authors' reaction to the cover: since this is purely a marketing consideration, the only reaction that matters is the readers'.