I can't help but think about how Rawatism, like all advanced cases of Hinduism, is a very, very extreme frame of mind.  The world's all maya, the master's the only reality, samskara, karma, grace that overrides it all ...

Wasn't there just a spectrum of people taking that shit seriously?  I mean, look at all the "community premies" who, in our "clearer" ashram perspective, never really got the message, despite Rawat's hammering it night and day.  They thought we were nuts sometimes just like you see Smith.  But we weren't.  We were just trying to do what we thought was the right thing.

On the other hand, I also get your point that Rawat's responsible for putting into play all the various kinds of personalities, including the Anne Johnson's and David Smith's of the world. 

To me, though, it's almost surprising there wasn't more dehuminizing fanaticism, given the script.