"My contention is that he appropriated other people's original ideas, and other people implemented his modifications." So what? Ideas aren't very special in an

"My contention is that he appropriated other people's original ideas, and other people implemented his modifications." So what? Ideas aren't very special in and of themselves. I have lots of ideas every day that end up having no impact on the world, because I don't do anything about them. Also, I think you underestimate the importance of editing. There is a reason writers have editors, bands have producers, actors have directors, and so on.