i think in the magic community everybody knows that criss angel uses camera tricks and stooges, but the point is , he is a good entertainer, of course he's not able to do dan and dave tricks but that's not what laymen are looking for in vegas !
it's like Uri Geller, all the magicians owe him a lot ! they were just jealous because he's famous all over the world with just spoon,keys, and drawing !, he has taken the world by storm !