"But frankly it seems to me that he'd rather get the juice from claimed persecution than actually advance the field." This is absolutely ad hominem. You're ins

"But frankly it seems to me that he'd rather get the juice from claimed persecution than actually advance the field." This is absolutely ad hominem. You're insinuating he's a fraud - without even knowing the math he's referencing - and then saying he's trying to milk a victimhood stance; eloquent ad hominem, ad hominem nonetheless. And the rest of what you said is fine - but throwing unsubstantiated shade/ad hominem as you walk away from the challenge is something else. I'm curious though also, what "conspiracy theories" are you claiming he propagates - and without referencing evidence? That term is often thrown away as as ad hominem to be dismissive and demonizing as well.