I disagree. He was pivotal in creating an environment where women could get paid for taking their clothes off and exposing themselves to horny men. Once that door was open culturally it just steamrolled into who could top who with more "erotic" poses and other things.
Hefner helped create an environment where women would let themselves be exploited.
He provided a pay check...and the "air" of legitmacy.
Remember, Hef doesnt look at his work as porn...he looks at it as art.
If his mag was still done in Black & White, HQ pics in foreign locations, of semi nude to nude women...and he didnt have seven girlfriends nor sponsor orgies...sure, maybe it would be art...but, nah, he's just a pornographer.
Oneupmanship is killing the culture. That's why the kids all have to outdo the ones that came before and they seem to keep getting more and more self-destructive.