Axle makes a good point difficult to argue against I must say.
That is a podcast story I saw. Unless there is a link I missed (gives it to usss my preciousssss) And I (sorry) don't have much patience for those.
I think the freakiest thing about aliens, in my mind, is their aloof and almost mindless ways when it comes to humans and others. Elfs can be aloof but they still interact. I mean to the point where humans are mostly ignored. No fear, no acknowledgement, just total and complete obliviousness to them and not caring. They would be incredibly alien if they didn't care about gold or other precious metals. Of course they need them for "trade" with the other races perhaps, but the value they have it is nothing compared with how others view it. Perhaps because they actually have so much and is easy for them to get ahold of.
So maybe the truest, most pure dwarves act like your typical grey aliens. Those dwarves that the folks interact with are a lower form that were made for the interaction and are considered a lesser species as well...but one they higher dwarves actually have discourse with....through mind bullets!