"You couldn't find a more pleasant, honest, and intriguing person."

Hmmm me thinks that comment, re your opinion of Dr. Barron, confirms our suspicion as to the reason he chose to leave the Aurelian scene.

IMO He chose to retain the high intigrity he has earned in the World of Mining and to do so, it meant he had to cut the ties so his name wouldn't be among the others when the plans he was hearing, were exposed.