often that's true, there are musicians who would have been pretty much forgotten if they hadn't died young. I'm amazed at the instant reverence for Amy Winehouse! and let's be honest, Jim Morrison was a dick. But then there's Hendrix :) i'm sure there are some who would call him overrated, but not too many.
i do wonder if Janis Joplin and Nick Drake would have gotten the respect they have if they'd lived. i think they're both fantastic, by the way