I thought the handicapped spot story and the every-six-months-new-car-for-no-plates story were separate. Steve didn't want a license plate on his car because he thought it messed up the aesthetics. He was also a jerk and parked in the handicapped spot because he could.
They’ve always been separate stories to me too and I’ve heard the same “aesthetics” point a bunch too (which doesn’t make it “true”, but sounds plausible anyway).
2) Agreed. This story makes no sense, although there is a picture of his car in a handicapped spot, so maybe he just did it once?
3) Lots of brilliant and successful people are assholes. Most people admire the first two qualities and not the third.