"slightly off-putting" Argh, we are in a forum, this is communication deprived of non-verbal cues. Just focus on the intent and the information. I think shykes deserves more than judging of his tone. I also think it is cool he is hanging out here managing (mis)information. Are you all jealous or something? You have the chance to ask anything you want to someone who is the driving force behind a project of which the implications are hard to overestimate. And you find his tone off-putting.

I'm just a biologist but if any of the big names in my field (say, Hans Clevers, is that a stretch?) would be approachable on a forum, man that would great!!