This is actually an interesting study in modern media manipulation, ordinary people doing the job of the official media, using the relatively new multi media communication to 'out' a fibber.
Happily, and to the media's occasional benefit, at least some of the people who frequent PPRuNe are far from ordinary in the context of light 'plane piloting - they are highly experienced pilots, who are easily able to understand and dissect aviation statements and claims.
These ordinary PPRuNer's are to varying extents also insulted that their honourable pastime would be so casually abused in public image and wrongly hyped up, by a pilot of dubious standing.
TCT could have accomplished much of what she had done with honour, and small accolades from the PPRuNe group, if she was simply humble and truthful about it. It's not the concept of the adventure which is offensive, but the immense volume of misrepresentation, and thereafter weasling, instead of coming clean about it.
TCT has had ample opportunity, both here, and behind the scenes, to make this right, and has not. 'Probably not going to happen. But, this immense volume of comment will serve as a case study for future people and organizations who could choose to be drawn in to such an effort, and for media who may choose to report it.