TS, perhaps if moshe Kotlarsky would indeed make such remarks, ruffle some feathers…the shluchim who you mention would takeh leave, and make chabad a healthier community? Would the “antis” miss the messianics? Wouldn’t distancing themselves from the supposed “fringes” strengthen the community and show what they “actually” believe, that the messianics are a small but vocal and cooky minority?
Or, the alternatives are that the “antis” don’t think it’s such a big deal if many believe in the mesiahood of the lubavitcher rebbe, or if they accept atzmus ideology.
Yet another alternative is that “anti” isn’t really all that anti, and that there’s a subtle distinction between those who proclaim the messiah’s reign openly and those who believe it’s best to hide it until he returns and redeems them.
I’m inclined to think it’s the latter.