The emails are at least semi true since he had then-unknown titles. It’s possible he had the Village sessions and made up the rest. As annoying as MSL could be, I would bet these were all real. Right at that time he became a TB and Axl apologist to the nth degree and started appeasing Warchild. Probably indicates a payoff
I’d rather he goes for it than playback. That being said, utilizing the other band members isn’t a bad idea. Sounded good on Civil War when they did it