My point is exactly that. It's not obvious, and as such you can't attribute the success of Linux to his behaviour. Like the OP said, there's no logic in looking at something successful and picking a singular thing to be responsible.
But did it work because of the style or in spite of it? No reason to believe it wouldn't be even more successful if he had been less abrasive like he is now.
The fourth power equation you're talking about is weight per axle. A semi truck will weigh much more in total. But the difference in weight per axle isn't as high as you seem to think.
The planet broke before the Guard did.