He's only playing less than 1 more hand per orbit, is he not? This could simply come from something like always completing in the small blind; or a Shania thing like elindauer (I think) posted about recently where he might always play A4[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] in EP, or something similar to that.
I don't think the HPFAP quote is too far off from what is happening here. Take what I say with a grain of salt however as I'm in the 'never played with him before' boat.
I'm referring to this,
link