From what I can gather, the original output of most academics decreases as they progress in their career.

I'll be 43 when I finish my PhD and I'm definitely planning an academic career!

On the basis that the general public doesn't have a high opinion of mere students.

I certainly style myself as a postgraduate researcher in certain documents e.g. material for research subjects.

No, I'm not missing the point at all. Using textspeak will tend to make people think a particular way. Do you dress smartly for interviews? I rest my case ;)

It is annoying that people are advertising things without being upfront about it.
As for the comments about style versus substance, given the effect that turgid prose has readers, it's an important part of the dissemination aspect of research that we write well and engage the intended audience. The world of academia is littered with the corpses of brilliant minds who couldn't communicate effectively.

They're all fair questions. What stage is that at?
I'd say be confident, although not by just bullshitting as they will be skilled BS detectors.

Would you be interested in an article on Neurolaw?

Being in research is partly about realising how much you don't know. For sure you need to make sure that people know about the issues you've been having and make sure you're using all the available resources.

Have you spoken to people that know you about your suitability for a PhD? Certainly the people who run PhD programmes don't want to accept people who aren't suitable, it doesn't reflect well on them if people drop out.
A PhD is hard work, so IMO the most important thing (given the basic academic requirements of course) is being committed to a PhD and knowing why you want to do a PhD.

I'm hardly on campus, maybe once a month on average - although this has its difficulties and wouldn't be for everyone.

Yes, I haven't got results yet but I've been published and submitted papers coming out of my work on the theory.

Well Ian, of course you don't need to mention it was your thesis when you mention research you've done, but why must you avoid mentioning it? After all. your thesis is probably going to be your largest project, so it does have some relevance. Plus a PhD is generally subject to more scrutiny than other projects.
It's more HOW you present the fact of having a PhD that makes the difference, not that you mention you have a PhD at all.
As someone else noted, not all PhDs are the same, and the public have a nose for bullshit.

I'm not at all sure that you have an advantage as an insider in an academic department, from what I've seen.

Why are half horrified? I can't see why tidying up should be annoying. The main thing is to do it at a time when it disrupts the other people as little as possible.