[shrubble]

It's easy to look like a genius when your company engages in sleazy, underhanded business practices and becomes a near-monopoly as a result. Stac, the paying off of Ziff-Davis publications, etc.

Ever since Bill Gates snookered Ed Roberts , Microsoft has had 'flexible' business ethics.

[geodel]

Maybe 3 orders of magnitude more people have tried same techniques but couldn't succeed. So yes, it is still genius.

[shrubble]

Every large mafia thus is "genius" by your definition.