DR has helped a lot of people and his program is great for getting people out of debt. For the most part people who have to be told what to do, who have been superconsumers their entire adult life. For some he helps, many, it becomes a religion and Dave has engineered his program to make devoted followers. The perfect DR follower is one that has been living beyond their means for as long as they can remember, are drowning in debt. They have trouble seeing a way out. Others have told them how to get out, but it doesn't resonate. They are offered financial peace at a low price or even free. The course is usually facilitated by those who are already on board and some who have successfully completed at least a few of the baby steps. These people are often his acolytes and they fiercely defend all things Dave. Baby steps sounds easy. Follow everything exactly, in order no deviating. If you go to a DR forum or just talk to acolyte it is very weird. They don't drive cheap beaters. They drive Dave cars. They don't get second jobs. They get Dave jobs. Dave says pay off your credit cards. Don't transfer your balance, that isn't Dave approved. Dave says build an emergency fund. Dave says save up to buy things. Apparently no one thought of these things before Dave (that part is really odd because he says a lot that his ideas are nothing new) What, you want to put money in a traditional IRA, no that is the devil, Dave says only do Roth IRAs. How much do you save for retirement, 15%. Until you have paid for your kids college and pay off your mortgage. Then you can do more. Oh, I have a financial question, does anyone know what Dave says about.... Dave says CDs are bad don't buy CDs. Ever. Don't buy bonds, all of your retirement has to be invested in stock and it has to be allocated his way. Oh, still confused about investing? Looking for an advisor? Dave happens to have Dave approved advisors, who pay a small fee to be in his network.
In all fairness most of the people who listen to him and have taken his classes aren't like that and he has helped many more people than I have. But people that can't think for themselves drives me nuts in case you were wondering.