Party 1 of 4
Your overall thesis: “[Cardinal Burke is] “a small man..raised to importance by the US media only to falsely give the pope a nemesis with stature”.
Taking your points in turn.
Your First point:- What you see as the 'unimportance' of the Order of Malta (hence your references to von Freyberg) and the 'ceremonial' nature of Burke's Patronal role. 
But here, you are claiming something which no-one contests. 
Prior to Burke's arrival, the Patronal role was indeed mainly ceremonial. Prior to his arrival, few people knew much about the Order of Malta. So? 
For the reality is that Burke changed the role. He used it as a lever to continue his activism. He turned what had been a ceremonial role in a little-known organisation, into an active role. With Festing's help, he tried to wrest control of the Order, and then to engage in what you have called a power-play with the Vatican. At one point, it looked as if he might win it (until Francis called Festing's bluff, and Festing caved).