I think, also, on woo sites, Patrick would simply be one of a crowd. People wouldn't argue with him because they are more interested in arguing *their* theories.
One can imagine him going "Lick Observatory! I've cracked the case - here, look!" and everyone else on the board going, "Ummm, too complicated, don't understand the numbers, and besides, here's MY proof that the Moon is an orbiting space turtle, and that the astronauts couldn't have landed because they couldn't get through its invisible shell."