Maybe because internet sites like this exist 25 years ago?
Somebody posted on this site some years ago that he knew the PH that PHC cited in a story about culling cape buffalo and when asked about it, the PH who was with PHC said that PHC took some liberties with it to make it a better story. IIRC, that PH also claimed that PHC borrowed adventures that other PHs had and claimed them as his own.
It seems internet sites give people a platform to continually post things they heard on the internet so often that it becomes a reality.
Of course Capstick was a story teller. That's what sells books. He added color and creative narrative to create interest. I am of the opinion that a lot of people enjoy trying to bring down the big dogs and that's what you see with those running down PHC.
