He’s still attached to the Trek franchise and benefits if in the public’s perception his relationship with cast and crew is seen as friendly. He told this story to shape that perception, to make people say, “aw, cute, she wanted him to have her badge, they must be good friends.”
He doesn’t need to “come back” anywhere to benefit. If he wants to do anything at all in media (write a book, do a con, consult on a show etc), he’d better keep the memory of his connection to Trek alive. If nothing else, if he doesn’t want to work at all anymore, at the barest, very least, it gets him positive attention from the internet to portray himself as a friend to other people attached to Trek.
If they have a history of misremembering and have been called out before, yes. Especially if they’re essentially doing PR, like he is doing here.
what is he doing PR to? his desk, or that badge?
He’s still attached to the Trek franchise and benefits if in the public’s perception his relationship with cast and crew is seen as friendly. He told this story to shape that perception, to make people say, “aw, cute, she wanted him to have her badge, they must be good friends.”
does he? he is 80, he is not coming back…
He doesn’t need to “come back” anywhere to benefit. If he wants to do anything at all in media (write a book, do a con, consult on a show etc), he’d better keep the memory of his connection to Trek alive. If nothing else, if he doesn’t want to work at all anymore, at the barest, very least, it gets him positive attention from the internet to portray himself as a friend to other people attached to Trek.