I think the wrong or right can always be subjective. Les may wear cotton socks because he can use lint from them as tinder. And you may have been taught to wear wool or polypropylene, probably to avoid wet cotton and possible frost bite.

Maybe each could be correct depending on who is invovled. I don't think poly socks are useful for me at all. My feet sweat, they get wet, that is not going to change unless they get some air. A change of socks helps, and a fire might help one set and my boots both dry out.

I think some of the things Les does or does not do are batty, I really do not get some of them. However, I don't go out and spend my time crossing deserts or frozen tundra, so I really don't have room to criticize Les or Bear. As with any thing in this arena, you need to look at and evaluate what may work for you.