I wouldn't be too quick to call shenanigans on this. Information marketing is a huge business.

The average joe doesn't make a lot of money because they get the "information" part but not the "marketing" part.

Look at his salesletter -- it's traditional direct marketing copy. Big on the hype, big on the "getting you emotionally" involved. That's how you convert eyeballs into sales. (Wait on the page until you get a pop-up with a discount, another big technique.)

I'm betting he has lots of affiliates helping to get eyeballs to his site, too.

I'd believe he's making every bit as much as Cringely says he does.