Maybe I've spent too much time among lawyers, but I have noticed that there are some very smart people that seem to relish having certain unconventional beliefs. A critical, independent mind is a great thing, but the danger is when the view is held because it is unpopular and not because of any critical investigation of the evidence. Call it "anti-confirmation bias" if you want. Or to put it another way, some people just seem to enjoy smugly dismissing the obvious answer because it makes them feel smart!
I probably play devils advocate a little bit too much, but most people are too eager to firmly plant their feet in some belief, rather than just roll the ideas around. And if you like to probe around, you'll have some questions or at least value different perspectives, and if you pose these (loaded) questions or insights to others it can be divisive, even if meant in good faith. I probably messed around as a flat earth troll too much, but I think it's a great example.
Yes, that's an explantation that could support his behaviour.
However I don't think that he was doing it just to present himself as smarter than the other people. He firmly believed that opinions, at least that's what I was getting out of his talks and some of his books.
