Avira, you wrote (parenthetically), “his time, kal vechomer ours“.
I don’t think that would necessarily be the case. I don’t think he was in a great time, or place. There’s a good chance that we are doing much better.
Another thing: I don’t have the insider perspective that you have. However, you must be careful when criticizing Talmidei Chachamim and Yar’ei Shamayim. Somebody who is a Muchzak Talmud Chacham can’t be spoken of with derision, scorn or worse — sarcasm.