As a collector Mike has few peers, because he is not only blessed with knowledge, but also with generosity, kindness and open-mindedness which are all things needed to be a good author. Being knowledgeable, or having a good memory, isn't enough. To be a successful author/researcher you need to have cooperation of others, to make people want to help you in your projects.
Mike has these traits, proven many times, I do not think I have seen him loose his patience or temper with anyone.
I think that is one of Mike's strongest traits, his open-mindedness, his willingness to look objectively at subjects or rifles, not get caught up in being correct in every tedious detail - knowledge can be a liability alone, it can make you ignore others opinions, have contempt for contrary views, which in the more than 10 years I have known Mike, he has never suffered from.
Anyway, Mike is a leader, he marshals specialists around him and makes them a team where something can be accomplished. Not too many of those around these days.
