Cylinder:
You are correct. You didn't say that Neil and the BOD said that serious investors are stupid. In fact, the opposite as you point out. Sprott and Pinetree, for example, are capable of playing a pretty mean game of (dare I say it) manipulation.
Personally I have problems with verbs like appear and assume because they just don't say much at all. Sort of "sit-on-the-fence verbs" used when setting out one's own opinion. Nothing intrisically wrong in it; but it can be confusing. I'm not throwing any stones here, because I've used them before. Numerous times.
Snug