“On a serious note, I find it both humorous and a bit bizarre that anyone, including rabbonim from across the spectrum, purport to “know” who is moishiach or even speculate on his identity.”
Across the spectrum? Nobody does this except for Lubavitchers. The example to which you were replying was pure hearsay, as you yourself pointed out. Why do you think there would be such a controversy around Chabad if this were a normal behavior?