I think the bowtie thing makes sense, actually. The context of the bowtie has changed since the 60's - these days, it signifies either that you are the late Sen. Paul Simon or a serial killer. It's the sort of stylistic touch that would come off more as hipster affectation or an alien's failed attempt at assimilation into human society than the sign of a Joe Schmoe forensic scientist comic nerd. And for a lot of white male geeks of Barry's in-universe era, the leather jacket is kinda analogous to the bowtie: anachronistic, but unconsciously so.
I agree wholeheartedly on the dead parents angle. It just feels really stale, in general and within Geoff Johns' body of work.