I'd not argue against most of that, but one can meet success by being, through shit-house luck, on the right side of a fence.

Back around the turn of the year I read MP's stuff some.  He's definitely a weird motherfucker, but definitely also very bright with a good grasp on many aspects of philosophical and engineering thought.  If I had to guess I'd say that whatever success he has realized (and I suspect it is significantly puffed up) was not in the accident of fate category as much as it was a result of good analysis and execution.  I'm as happy that he's on my side of the fence as I am that Gavin-the-clod is not.  If the MP contingent is self-destructive it's just one more ball to keep an eye on as the ecosystem experiences a stress pulse.