Lot

I would add something about the covid situation to the answer. After all, it was very likely in relation to that, when he talked about "still making an effort".

You should visit Denmark at some point. In 4 years here, I have not used a last name while taking to anyone. Though, I don't use any kind of name if I talk to strangers, and probably would not call a waiter by first name if they wore a name tag ;)

Both the customer and the guild know how good the guild is. Thus, they know what they tell will become truth, and from day to day, that is more likely to happen. So after a few day, both customer and guild are convinced the change already happened, and believe it just as well.

Just as a reference: I am at a Uni, and I currently send daily mails inviting people to the Christmas event of the day (one office opening their door each day to give out candy) to everyone. When I mentioned I would stop to reduce the spam, our head professor sent me an email that my reminders are great and I should continue them. The whole thing might be considered work related, but so is a strike..

Because if I cannot disarm you, I might do something far worse to you

Please, what ever you do, talk to the guy first, to make sure he wants the promotion!

"activities that have zero relevance or value to their professional training" I would not go that far. Every training a phd student gets for presenting and explaining his work is in some way valuable. Being forced to do so on the internet might be a bad thing, but I am sure they would learn something.