Think he 'disses callers when he doesn't need to. Appears to get torqued off when a caller simply starts off "Hi Dr Savage, how are you" or "how's it going...."
Its a simple greeting, and Savage will never answer...claims "I don't know you", etc.....
Strange way to treat someone before he knows their position...if they person turns out to be a liberal dork, then let him have it.
Almost makes me think he hates what he is doing...not a good draw for a larger audience.
With respect to small talk at the outset of a call, the Dean of talk radio, the man who invented it and the seven second delay, Gerry Williams of Philadelphia and Boston, did the same thing. He had no time or interest in the "person" of the caller, just the caller's comments, ideas, and entertainment value. He was on air nearly 50 years in total until his death last year.