Most other artists would kill for level recognition Liefeld has.

If Liefeld was doing it wrong, then doing it 'right' isn't all it's cooked up to be

This is a very fair point. No one bought image comics because 'muh anatomy'.

I can't completely support your suggestion for what he was really referencing BUT it doesn't matter because his style is his style and that's kind of where it ends. And the legacy speaks for itself