i wouldn't go as far as to say that they're not "real" magicians, after all, every magician uses camera angles or the audiences line of sight to their advantage. they're all still illusions, no magician is actually doing what they say they are, otherwise that'd be real...."magic"
i've been watching a bunch of his stuff, and it becomes obvious that he is using accomplaces... i believe that when he breaks the woman in half on the park bench, he's using a quadraplegic [ anybody remember that episode of jerry springer with the crazy fetishes? the one with the vomiting druing sex guy... wellthere was a lady that was caught cheating on her husband with a quadraplegic in that episode who was cut off above the waist, so thats the only way i can see that he did that trick.
but chances are the audiences really are suprised some of the stuff looks pretty amazing upon first inspection, and we dont really know how many take it took him to get those reactions either...thats my rant