Wait a minute…we're talking optics now?
Let the record reflect that I've encountered some of the "cult mentality" with other bullet types over the years as well - Barnes and Berger come to mind especially in their respective infancies, and the price people will pay for Nosler ballistic tips which are just in bonded cup and cores with a pretty nose indicates a great deal of fandom there too. Hammers do indeed have a cult following and their creator and owner is a passionate zealot consumed by the pursuit of what he does for a living. Sometimes that does cloud judgment maybe or lead to a "conversational intensity" that some find abrasive.
But I sure do like what I've been finding with the hammers I bough so far. No hot air in the claims as best I can tell. And when I've asked about possible partial inspiration or help from other mono-makers Steve has been refreshingly truthful - this product didn't just emerge in a vacuum. Moreover I've actually "gotten into it" with him and a hammer fan or two over the last few years and have found that when I've reached out in private to clear the air after things got a bit too heated I've always been able to come away from the conversation with the impression of mutual listening and respect. Sometimes ya just need to talk to someone and not on a public forum thread.