Trust is relative. I'm not a crypto expert but Thomas ostensibly is. Is he the best? I don't know but he's a consistent figure here and I made a friendly, perhaps in-artfully phrased request for an opinion on a related subject.

I do regret asking as I wasn't looking for the negativity I received.

Searching for validation for my question found an interesting thread on Thomas and his role here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17019412:

"tptacek is using an appeal to authority given his standing as a security expert on this forum. That's the only reason his comment containing no justification is being taken seriously."