Yeah I guess, but sometimes I think it was the tragic death that made him into such a legend... I don't know why. He's sort of the face of teenage rebellion, and died young--sort of an example of a rebel. Imagine an old rebel guy in his 80s right now? I couldn't.
So I think it was because he died young that he became such an influential legend to rebels haha. :)
I don't know, just my opinion... probably wrong anyway.