As to whether he was actually on/in the places he claimed to be, it’s not unlike operating a remote repeater on/in that entity while not actually being there. A difference with very little distinction.
Really? If I say the transmitter is in Aves but it is actually in Miami, that's the same as going through the considerable effort of getting the authorities to approve, put the station in Aves, and operating it remotely?
Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?
Hate on remote operation if you like, but you must be young and green to argue this way. The hurt put in the program by Don Miller's
lies about where he was is the biggest scar in the history of DXCC.
One reason LOTW is as paranoid as it is is precisely because of one
Don Miller. Read any honest writeup of the Miller saga. There simply wasn't the worry about "is this guy legit" before him.
The only "scars" remote operation is making, by contrast, is the old farts who can't cope with something new. Most of us are coping just fine.