...or does Ric Gillespie (TIGHAR/Amelia Earhart) come off as a massive d-bag?

It's not you.

IMO, TIGHAR deserves alot of credit for developing and fleshing out the Gardner Island theory. It's a solid theory and they've uncovered much evidence to support the theory. They're all in on that theory, and I'm fine with that.

The island is horrendous to get to and I have no problem with them raising money to fund these expeditions.

My issue with them is the way they go about it. You'll see press releases from them stating "Mystery of Earhart solved" and things that.. For lack of a better term are clickbait.

I think it's a shame that the good work they have done is eclipsed by the way they present their findings.