Regarding the $25k pa spending, I find ER-org weird. They love nothing more than to post about how their portfolio has increased this year and how great things are, and a corresponding increase in spending that year.
But if MMM continues to increase is wealth (through the blog or whatever), he is expected to maintain the original $25 k spend or else he's not genuine.
I find the vibe of ER-org to be one of 'we retired 5 years earlier than most, at 59, so we bucked the system'. As a whole, the site comes across as resentful to anyone who dares to get out 20 years early.