Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos.
-George W. Bush
I've spent time with "Buggs" of http://www.borderlandbeat.com/ who knows a lot about Ed.
Ed's intel and insights on Mexico and the cartels is pretty much spot on and he was Mexican LE.
Is he a bit out of his lane in some of his coursework... probably.
But I see the same thing from a lot of retired/ex US LE and Mil in the training world as well.
A sweet Instagram page and an unremarkable DD214 doesn't mean you know jack shit about fighting with a handgun, but attracts a certain demographic like flies to honey.
"For a moment he felt good about this. A moment or two later he felt bad about feeling good about it. Then he felt good about feeling bad about feeling good about it and, satisfied, drove on into the night."
-- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy --
Let me start by stating I have no business dealings with Ed and have not taken any of his classes. I did spend an extended amount of time with him and and his family outside of a "training" environment. I've had the opportunity to discuss topics at length including his former career in a setting that isn't going to happen for most people. I've also spent time around him in other settings. My bullshit meter is legit. I'm the kind of guy if you haven't earned my trust and tell me the sky is blue, I'm gonna need to look for myself. None of my interactions with the man have given me pause or concern about his background.
As someone stated, Ed has been on the interwebs long before the manifesto became a thing. He's several years into the manifesto. He's in magazines on a frequent basis. It has been 7-months since his first appearance on Rogan. What I find interesting is nobody has come forward with anything to expose the man as a fraud in a world full of haters.
I can't say I've heard Ed take credit for being the first to come up with something. Maybe he has and I'm not aware of it. He seems quick to credit others and makes it clear where his material originates from.
In his classes Ed doesn't teach bullshit theory or have a system that evolves into a MLM scheme. You want to learn how to pick locks, he teaches you. You want to learn how to escape various restraints, he teaches you. You want to see how a blade or other stabby / pokey thing does on the pig, he gives you the opportunity. You want to learn how to make improvised weapons out of readily available items, he teaches you. Everything he teaches you're going to be able to determine right then and there if it's bullshit or not. Given how popular his classes are and the number of repeat students, I'd say he must be offering skills people find valuable.