To me it seems there are two parts to this subject. The first, which you've covered well, is the fraudulent claims and harmful products Gwyneth is hawking.

The other part that I wish I knew more about is who are these people who are believing these things and buying these products, and more fundamentally, who on earth would see Gwyneth Paltrow as a role model?

She's a mediocre actress (her mother Blythe Danner is leagues better) and her looks are nothing special AFAIC. To me she's a big "So what?"