My uninformed gut-feel is that you've got it right.

Roger has been systematically maligned by cynical corporate ops that get away with slander and incite the deaf, dumb and blind masses of angry malcontents to get on the bandwagon. What is shocking is that so many key players in the crypto-world have not taken a brave stance. The risk is getting shouted down.

Every time a dedicated freedom loving, voluntarist, libertarian gains prominence, they drop the boom of negative public opinion on them. (ie. Jeff Berwick, Dan Larimar, Roger Ver.)