I remember Demasco being promoted to 8th degree, and then all of a sudden Mattera was a 9th degree. I even heard a rumor that he Mattera went to japan to get the degree, but I'm pretty sure somebody must of mixed that up with some china trip story. Anyways, if you are a master at 5 degree, how can you be more of a master? Those 6th and up stripes are just politically driven.
Funny! He could have saved himself $100,000 or so if he would have just put the stripe on himself oh wait he did do that.
In most other arts and Counsel of Sokes (Grand masters) award one to the level of "Above Ranking" (10th Dan). I've never heard of any govening board do this for any of these Masters. Except for Nick Cerio who was the "Real Deal".