Good post FP...
Pearse's dates are contested, which is not surprising, but even if he did fly in 1903, he's not historically very significant, because he's so out of the line of development.
Pearse contested the 1903 date himself - and I will repeat again that Pearse never claimed to be first !
I will also repeat (again) that the Wrights never claimed to be first at anything !
A significant difference between (say) the Wrights and (say) Pearse is that the Wrights were experienced engineers who had spent years gradually developing the technology and the expertise to fly a powered aircraft whereas Pearse could perhaps be described as an eccentric inventor !
Please note - I am not knocking Pearse or any other pioneer - they were brave men to fly (or even attempt to fly) those early aircraft !
rgds LR