I think you're right, (trying not to be so turgid but I love the lil' guy for pete's sake) he is who he is because he doesn't know any better, no affectations, no airs, an adventurer, tried and true - I thought he epitomized the sort of doe-eyed naivete and complete lack of self-awareness that made childhood so much fun. There's just something about the animation and style of those movies too, aesthetically, that I've always really liked.