I'll stick to Mike Hearn's opinion
'Appeal to authority' is generally considered a logical fallacy at the best of times, but particularly when it's someone who is considered by many to be effectively ostracised from the community because of their views about blacklisting and other controversial matters. If Hearn and Wright are your guiding luminaries, you are beyond lost. Your circle is only going to grow smaller over time as people realise that's not the correct path to follow.