Anyone else bothered by the idea of a "well-crafted persona"?

I'm fine with being prepared for your talk, and knowing your topic. But spending 2-3 weeks on a slide deck and crafting a "persona" for your public presence sounds a lot like something an entertainer does.

To me, this seems like something you do when you're more interested in your self-image than you are about your topic. And that bugs me a little, because if you just come to your audience well-prepared, knowledgable, and genuine, I don't think you'd have to rely on an edgy "persona" at all.

But if people like it and learn from your talks, I guess it's all good. Just doesn't sit right with me.