I've read this thread with interest. Over the years(about 37) since I started going out and about in various bits of wild country, I've seen a wide number of different approaches to similar problems - none of them wrong, just different. I did complete the basic survival course at Hereford very many years ago(about 30) and it was made clear that there is rarely one right way, just the way you first learned followed by the ways you subsequently see others use and which might work better for you. I've read any number of outdoors books in that time, and seen how what was received wisdom today, in 10 years becomes distinctly suspect, and I've rarely seen ANY book able to accurately describe fully and completely the application of a practical technique!
Mr Mears programs and books got me interested in going back out to the woods again after a long break when other bits of life had taken over, and I had the good fortune to go on a Woodlore Fundamental Course in September (belated thanks to the instructors Lawrence, Dave, Willow and Netty - all excellent!). It was a great, although hardworking , experience. I met Ray Mears at that course, and he was impressive.
The dedication to and love of Bushcraft that he shows on tv is there all of the time, and he doesn't just teach what he knows, he listens to others' views or "take" on any aspect of the craft. He is the first to tell you that he is still a learner himself, and is always learning and developing his knowledge and skills. He is not an all-knowing god, but he IS a serious enthusiast about the subject and happy to confirm that even on tv it doesn't always go right the first time - they just don't have time to show the several tries which didn't work! He should be respected for the excellent work he has done in both popularising Bushcraft and it's various applications eg to nature watching and applied archaeology, and also for lifting the public perception of bushcraft practioners from being a bunch of "SAS/Rambo wannabees".
(climbs down off soapbox)