Does this style of management work for them? I'm not close enough to know if this is all that it takes.

Read the thread of comments, people take him seriously and are discussing the problem. I'd say, in the short term at least, it does work.

Right - but how about the long term?

My experience in the corporate world is things start with momentum, but without a cop managing all the details, things don't get over the finish line.

Does this method get projects over the finish line? I fully understand that it's unproductive to be a cop with high talent volunteers.