I’ve always had difficulty with that story. It’s a great lesson, but it seemed like extreme extortion to get to that point. Not questioning anyone’s gadlus chas veshalom. I guess there are just different mehalchim.
When asked who is there, “It is I” seemed to be, as least according to the rebbe in the lesson he wished to give at that moment to that talmid, to be a bit overpompous. I don’t thing anyone ever meant to purge the entire expression of first person from the language, just the self introduction of I, as though “I” needs no further introduction or explanation.
As in, l’havdil, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”