I've no doubt that Ralph Rinzler made Doc into what he was, Stim - no argument there. My post is not really about Rinzler or Doc, as such - it's merely a quizzical look at the appearance of "authenticity", about how much is set store by that appearance, and how our notions of the musical roots of a performer were partly true and partly illusion. Particularly in the 1960s.

I can recall reading the sleeve notes to Doc's seminal solo Vanguard LP at the time - I still have that record - and believing what I believed to be true.

There's some evidence in Gustavson's thesis that Doc regretted the life that he spent touring under Ralph Rinzler's wing - it had taken him away from his beloved family for long periods at a time, and it didn't actually pay that well - but, as you say, there's no doubt it changed the musical world. (He developed a stomach ulcer from the stress of touring).