If Joseph knew it was a fraud, then yes, he and Hofmann have a lot in common. If, on the other hand, Joseph really thought he was channeling God, then that's a different deal.If you think that Mark Hoffman is an apt comparison to Joseph, and think that the "logic" necessitates that Joseph knew he was perpetrating a fraud (a la Mark Hoffman), then so be it.By that logic, Joseph knew. He's the one who wrote the Book of Mormon and created the legend surrounding it. He's the one who reported the first vision and then changed it multiple times. He's the one who conned the women into "marrying" him and then lied about it repeatedly.
I have no intention of arguing beyond that many people who engage in magical occult practices such as money digging and divining actually believe they have abilities to do such and actually believe they are providing a real service by renting out their talents.
Neither makes it real.
Unfortunately, we don't know - and can't know - what does one of our fellow-creature know or believe or think.
We know only their deeds and words. Most of the times these together are good enough to decide.
One more about the "magical occult practices":
What does trigger one to begin this type of practice? It doesn't happen in vacuum.
One doesn't awake morning with the discovery: "Heureka! I see the waters in the earth!" or "I see others future from the tarot cards!"
Instead, he/she sees the masses who want to be the victim of letdown and the few others who take advantage of this.
And it is better to be a few, above the others.