No one here should ever feel threatened by Michael 'copying' this or that.. He admittedly has said "study the greats and become greater".. What made Michael the greatest was not a single move like the moonwalk (which he learned), his vocal style (that has strong influences from other entertainers), or any other singular talent Michael had..
What made Michael GREAT is the fact he cam go toe to toe with other greats in most fields on artistry.. We could argue IF Michael was the greatest dancer, we could argue IF Michael was the greatest vocalist, we could argue on what level his writing skills were etc.
But name me ONE other person that could be in the running to be one of the greatest in SO many fields.. Sure he did not invent the moonwalk, but he OWNED it! Sure his vocal style may have James Brown (and others) influence but no one can doubt the passion behind each note he sang.. His style may have been influenced by many (Bob Fosse , The Beatles, and others) but it was when MICHAEL wore it when people remembered it.. It was HIM that made zipper jackets a cultural trend, it was him that allowed old fashion like fedoras stay relevant in a world when it wasn't so much..
His voice, his style, his moves, his image - drawing ideas from various talents.. Is what made him the greatest!
Yes Michael was heavily influenced by Bob Fosse, John Travolta, James Brown, Jeffery Daniels, Judy Garland + many many more.. But it was him that put it all together with effortless perfection that created a singular product that no one can touch..