I admit to being old fashioned and more so, old and white, when it comes to my tastes. I don't care that much for who is nth generation polisher or who got promoted into some position. First reflects birth, second reflects loyalty. Even prizes have their limits - there are authors like Remarque or Tolstoy. And there are Pulitzer prize winners.
Expert should earn the title. By predicting things or offering valid, well known, published arguments.
In my book:
I strongly value Brian Czernega as a general kantei expert as well as that on certain materials and techniques.
Markus Sesko is the best when it comes to studies of old Japanese texts.
Dmitry Pechalov is very good when it comes to researching certain genealogies and a relationship between the swords and the collecting community.