As usual, this thread has taken the varied twists and turns we have come to expect from the usual suspects with one camp firmly entrenched in the reality of the incident and another in high level philosophical tangents rapidly moving into the twilight zone
Based on the evidence from Stan, it is pretty obvious there was an intentional effort to change reality - much more so than what you may expect from advertizement spin on products or services; that is just not a good comparison for what went on with the changes in this picture.
IMO, the events associated with this picture are much more than simply trying to minimize something like Ueshiba's association with DR - if that was the case, why bother to 'doctor up' an existing photo? why not just find another photo more appropriate and use it. The use of this photo in the way it was used appears to be a deliberate attempt to actually try and eliminate evidence of Ueshiba's relation to DR and not just to minimize it; which is a much more deceitful act than spinning up a mere biased viewed on things.
Just my thoughts - YMMV
Greg