Prestigious scientists can play this role even with anonymous review. They can publicize their support of a new and radical idea through talks at conferences, word of mouth, and other informal channels (like blogging). This will increase attention to their new idea, especially since many scientists like to keep track of what the top researchers in their field are doing. And if other scientists give extra weight to the views of their high status colleagues, they will also raise their probability estimates for the hypothesis. So the new idea can receive a boost before any paper is published. Then when papers supporting the radical new hypothesis are submitted for anonymous review, they will have a better chance of being published whether or not the prestigious scientist is an author.
Prestigious scientists can play this role even with anonymous review. They can publicize their support of a new and radical idea through talks at conferences, word of mouth, and other informal channels (like blogging). This will increase attention to their new idea, especially since many scientists like to keep track of what the top researchers in their field are doing. And if other scientists give extra weight to the views of their high status colleagues, they will also raise their probability estimates for the hypothesis. So the new idea can receive a boost before any paper is published. Then when papers supporting the radical new hypothesis are submitted for anonymous review, they will have a better chance of being published whether or not the prestigious scientist is an author.