Between this and the "sort of" option, but I think the real reason I edge more towards this is because I think he's very deeply developed compared to the other animated characters of his time.

Basically, there are lots of better developed animated characters (Disney or otherwise) that followed on after him, but I kind of see his character as a milestone in the animation industry when it came to fleshing out the personalities, emotions, relationships with other characters and general development. It was an exciting time in the animation industry back then. ;)