Besides the local villagers, did any other spiritual figures recognize Maharaj's true value, and what did they say about him?

Yes, other holy men recognized Maharaj's greatness long before the villagers did. Chapter 0 provides examples, such as Gangagir Baba who, upon seeing Maharaj, declared him a 'gem' of great worth. More specifically, Anandnath Maharaj of Akkalkot, a disciple of a famous Swami, forcefully made this point. After spontaneously joining some Shirdi devotees in their cart, he came to the village and proclaimed, 'This is a diamond. You don't know its true value. Even if he is on a dunghill, he is a direct diamond; keep this in mind.' These remarks highlight that his spiritual peers saw his immense value while others only saw a poor Fakir.