After reading that very long article on CR in gameranx, I've come to a satisfying conclusion of the man.
He is a salesman.
I should have known, heck, I used to make a living selling TVs on features that would never be appreciated. I know what it is like to hype stuff up to make the sale, the commissions from selling gold-plated ultra-fidelitous Monster Cables confirms it.
Chris shines his brightest when he is selling a new idea. I'm guessing, before his legal issues with Kostner, that CR was a pretty good producer. Using his charm and ability to create an exciting narrative for a product (movies in this case) he was able to collect the funding needed to get projects going.
He knows how to get your attention, he excels at putting a dream in your head and then convincing you that dream could be reality. It is a classic sales tactic. For example, to sell a TV to a fella who looks a bit tired (I look for tired eyes and a wedding band) and is coming in after 6 on a weekday, I'd win by creating a picture of a happy family enjoying their new TV. However, you don't just say that...you ask questions and drop hints to allow the customer to arrive there on their own. "Do you kids love video games? This TV has the highest refresh rate and will ensure they get the most from their games. Your wife like cooking shows? Awesome, this unit will provide the truest picture so that there is no confusion on how the final dish should look. Do you like to watch movies together? This blu-ray player will ensure that you get the same experience of the big theater, right in your home with your family." Basically, I'd just created a dream of a happy family who loves this tired, sad man, and all it takes to have this, today, is a store credit card.
This creates a dream in the customer's head that can only be realized through giving me money. Of course, they get it home and realize it is just another TV, their kids are still spoiled brats and their spouse is annoyed at the new debt....but I got my commission.
The sell is so strong with CIG/RSI. The dream is so intoxicating. I should have known. Chris is a magnificent salesman. The problem is that he is a salesman who isn't just in charge of more than sales, he is in charge of the whole project, end to end. There are no parameters for which he is required to work within....he can literally sell anything because the product doesn't exist. He needs someone above him to make him accountable or else the scope creep will never stop as the dream is constantly refreshed to bring in more sales.