[dmortin]

Was it inability or simply calculation? He made a livelihood out of making up stories about ancient aliens. He was financially motivated to keep telling his stories.

[eru]

Might be calculation for him. But inability for many of his believers, who had no financial gain.

[ndsipa_pomu]

I think a large part of it is wishful thinking. As a scifi fan, I think it'd be great to find out that we were aliens seeeded on Earth by some advanced civilisation. To weigh up the facts and realise that there's all the evolutionary evidence to show that we did just evolve from fish is a bit more boring.

[hermitcrab]

I've often wondered if he was sincere in his beliefs or just a grifter.

[layer8]

Maybe he was both, at different points in his life.