I don't think Hubbard knew anything about being exterior. I have read many books about "Astral Travel" whereby the writer claims to be able to leave the body using well-known techniques and I haven't read anything so naive as Hubbard's "being exterior with full perception". It seems to me this was just another area where he had a liitle bit of information and used it to pretend to be an expert.
I think what you wrote is true. It reminds me of Hana Whitfield story she posted on JP Capitalists blog:
http://www.reasoned.life/2018/02/hana-whitfield-interview-hubbard-really-sincere-helping-people/
excerpt:
"While visiting the Island of Madeira in the 70’s, Hubbard went for a walk in the mountains above the port of Funchal. A few of us accompanied him. From the hillside, we could see the Apollo, a white sliver along the dock in the glittering blue water. He stood tall, his shoulders back, chest out, head up, legs a bit apart – a favorite stance when he was being the “Commodore, “Teacher” and “Dispenser of Wisdom.” He gestured around with one arm and asked us what we saw. I think we all knew some enormous gem of wisdom was coming our way but were too timid to volunteer anything that would show how stupid we were, how limited in vision and of course, in confront. We told him what we saw – trees, plants, the path on which we stood, a stony wall alongside a road, and the unlimited sea and sky. A knowing smile appeared on Hubbard’s face, a kind of “See? I knew you wouldn’t know.” He waved his arm around again.
“What you don’t realize is that you’re seeing everything around you including yourselves through the lens of the reactive mind. It dictates everything you see. Even after your auditing wins thus far, it is still in control. When you reach OT and you can see without the bank … well! It’s a whole different story.”
He chuckled …
Hubbard had not said “When you see the world without the reactive bank like I can …” but we all got the message.
Hubbard was no God; he was as human as we all were. He had good moments and bad. And allergies, accidents, and cravings for tobacco. And he put on weight when he ate too much. And yes, he lied."
That Hubbard was a story teller and rhetoric master, a sophist. If one understands true old rhetoric, why one can see it.
If one understands the 3 means of persuasion and the 5 cannons.
I still think this is one of the easiest sites to learn about it if one cares to.
https://www.artofmanliness.com/arti...ic-101-the-five-canons-of-rhetoric-invention/
"The Five Canons of Rhetoric are:
inventio (invention): The process of developing and refining your arguments.
dispositio (arrangement): The process of arranging and organizing your arguments for maximum impact.
elocutio (style): The process of determining how you present your arguments using figures of speech and other rhetorical techniques.
memoria (memory): The process of learning and memorizing your speech so you can deliver it without the use of notes. Memory-work not only consisted of memorizing the words of a specific speech, but also storing up famous quotes, literary references, and other facts that could be used in impromptu speeches.
actio (delivery): The process of practicing how you deliver your speech using gestures, pronunciation, and tone of voice.
IMHO, that is Hubbard's hypnosis.