I don't understand how people can still be arguing over the origin of this "style". Greg Noonan brewed his Blackwatch IPA at The Vermont Pub and Brewery well before anybody on the pnw did.
As for it being a style I don't really think it deserves it. I think most of them fit in already existing styles. A lot of them are just hoppy porters or stouts. Strong brown ales. Or just IPAs that are black on color with no flavor difference.