IMO, it doesn't matter who came up with what first, it is all about who makes the best product. So, to me, it doesn't matter that Gerber came up with the sliding plier design if LM can make it better. Same with the Vic spirit, LM may have popularized the folding plier based tool, but IMO the spirit has vastly improved upon it. Maybe this is just my libertarian anti-intellectual property side speaking, so feel free to disregard

Although, having just picked up a rebar, it is very interesting the things that don't seem to change on LMs, that I would consider a flaw. I primarily have in mind the stiffness of the tools. Maybe LM considers this a feature in some way, so maybe its good they don't cater to what I think is better. Different strokes and all.
I think the rebar is probably deserving of the title, since it seems to me it has taken the LM way of MT design and advanced it (perceived foibles and all). It has just advanced it in a different way than my preferred tool.