" I agree it would be a Machiavellian level of shrewdness if this was Davis' plan all along and he fooled people into thinking they had wrung this out of him but in actuality they had unwittingly contributed to his Grand Plan. But It seems very unlikely."

I think "D" that Mr Davis is well aware of the old adage ...and I paraphrase just for Steve :0), when one sups with the devil, one needs an exceedingly long spoon.