Grey Matter,
I think the problem here is that you are assuming that Yeshivish Rockstar and I believe that tzadikim have power separate from Hashem’s power, which would be clear and utter kefira. That is not at all what we are saying. We are saying that tzadikim, like melachim, are connected to Hashem constantly, and therefore have access, (in the loshon used by Kavod Kedushas ADMO”R from Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok “are given the kochos MIN HASHOMAYIM”) to some of Hashem’s power so to speak.
There is no power other than Hashem, there is no existence other than Hashem, there is nothing but HASHEM. EIn Od Milvado. Leis asar panuy miney v’chu…
But not recognizing that Hashem gives access to His power leads R”L to the same error that Acher made at the end of meseches Chagigah, where he sees that Hashem gave metattron the reshus to sit while transcribing the merits of the Jewish people in the Devine Presence, and thinks that CH”V there are two reshuios.
And Yeshivish Rockstar, it’s my personal policy that I don’t answer for things ANA”SH say or do, if I felt I had to do so, it’d be all I’d be able to spend my time doing. Both things you mention above creep me out, and make me uncomfortable also. I don’t agree with them whatsoever.
When a chosid writes to the Rebbe as they are supposed to, they make it clear with the heading of their pidyon (ana l’orer rachamim rabim min hashomayim avur___ ben____), and in the body of their text, that they are not asking the Rebbe to give them a brocha and fulfill that brocha (something that would be impossible for the Rebbe to do, as there is no power other than Hashem) but rather that the Rebbe will give a brocha that HASHEM will fulfill IY”H. If someone is doing something other than that, they should be immediately corrected!
As to why people ask their Rebbeim for brachos, this is something that I’m sure any chosid, of any chassidus could answer better than I. It would require writing an entire other explanation for which I have neither the time, nor the patience. One can rely on the past 300 years of Jewish history to be assured that it is a kosher and accepted practice, given one does it in the right way.