His proposed method for scamming a free install of Win10 sounds, well, "damned unlikely" is a kind way to put it.
It might have worked once or twice due to some fluke he doesn't recognize -- after all, no authentication system is flawless. I don't see how it circumvents Microsoft's activation mechanism, especially since Win8 (not 8.1) is completely ineligible for upgrade to Win10, and wasn't eligible even when the upgrade was free. Something smells.
Unless he can provide some demonstrable proof of it working, I consider it just hearsay. Unfortunately it's very difficult to provide such proof without doing it in person. Talk is cheap, and YT videos can be faked, etc.
Color me VERY skeptical.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate your input!