You're right about Webb; he has gone over to the "dark side". And, he writes very convoluted sentences. Sometimes you have to read one two or three times to see what he is saying.
BTW: The term "redneck" refers to southern farmers plowing in the hot sun. There's a country song, "She Loves My Tractor", that refers to the "farmer's tan"; that's a red neck and white forehead, from the hats farmers wear. Stan