But there is no option that perhaps it is not lechatchila due to some real reason, right? Because anyone who is not matir anything that is not "chazer treif" is just being "fashionable".
It's possible, but I haven't heard it. What I've heard is exactly what I said, that he's universally accepted as a talmid chacham and the food is technically kosher but he relies on some kulos and doesn't apply some chumras that have been accepted by the olam.