"To me it's X" "It's not X" - do you not see that here, you seem (ironically) the one deficient in seeing the other guy's point of view? At least, I read him as saying "It seems X to me", which is not something you can disagree/argue with—I think he began "To me.." to avoid that kind of criticism, by stating an indisputable fact.

That said, I mostly agree with both of you. But my casting vote says - yup, 1000% insane hehe. That would seem pretty crazy to me if I witnessed that. (Disclosure: vegan for decades, would never buy anything leather)