Just like Erik's claim that his 11-cent filter can filter out anything, regardless of power or frequency, that one might encounter at the output of an otherwise unknown switcher, I just don't believe 'em until I see it myself.
I never made any such claim. I 'claimed' that my "11 cent filter (I do not know the actual cost, but it is nominal) could filter the output of one particular switcher to a better than satisfactory level.

I asked Erik about what he's observed coming out of his DC-DC converter module, and he failed to answer, probably because he's never looked.
true, we designed a filter based on the switchers datasheet and looked for the result of the combination to be "better than satisfactory", no component cares how you get a clean Vcc, most components care that you have one.

If he can get by with that, I guess it's OK with me. It's just like his other "observations" that he's obviously never bother to make. If he can fool his employer enough to earn a living that way, fine. At least the taxpayers don't have to support him.
There is no 'fooling' the design works, I do not even care to know if it works because of a good switcher or because of a good filter, I do care immensily that the combination works "better than required"

What Erik and I often argue is the differences in our approach. I don't know what he does, but I know I have to analyze before I can design. He seemingly doesn't have to do that. As a consequence, he probably arrives at a solution, in those cases wherein he actually does arrive at one, more quickly than I would.
Yes, I do not have Richards opinion of the bad, ugly manufacturers, I design to the datasheet and verify the result of the design I could not care less which factor makes the design work "better than required" as long as it is.

We all have to allow for the fact that we are different, possess different world-views, and approach problem solving in different ways. I do what I do because my circumstances demand it. I have to justify and otherwise document everything I do, as I'm generally an outsider to the client firms I support.
I agree, just your unqualified snide remarks like "If he can fool his employer enough to earn a living that way" constantly coming from you, do not support that you "allow for the fact that we are different".

Erik