But "one of the foremost science educators"? Hmmm.
Your other points notwithstanding, I have to defend Nye here.... He's absolutely one of the foremost educators.
Education also requires reach. The most brilliant prof could teach one person who may end up a brilliant scientist. A really bad teacher could cycle through a ton of students, and none of them would gain anything... But even a mediocre scientist who's funny, accurate, and enjoyable teaching thousands actual science would be a better educator overall by leaps and bounds.
Nye's show was wildly popular to teens and preteens, and watched by millions. Hell, he might have been largely responsible for tens of thousands of people going into science fields that wouldn't have otherwise. I say this because 85% of teens knew of him, and 90% of those actually watched his shows according to a study by Josephine Holz. I'd love to see a freshman incoming questionnaire asking "Who inspired you most to pursue a science degree?" and I bet Nye would be the name most given.
He was Gen Y's Mr. Wizard, and even more popular. That's pretty cool, and I claim that makes him one of the foremost science educators in the US.