This was an interesting one!
I am a strong yes. I am much more interested in following real, three-dimensional people than I am in following The Inventor of Staplers or The World's Greatest Chef.
The people I respect the most in technology and other fields bring a lot more to the table than august pronouncements in their area of expertise.
I occasionally get called on this by people who follow me expecting me to be some kind of Elder of the Fediverse. I don't meet that expectation very well.