Even Reagan wouldn't be able to live up to the reputation of REAGAN.
Actually, Reagan might.
But what you say is true of (the vastly over-praised) John Kennedy. He never matched the hype, in his lifetime or afterward. However, Kennedy did have a sense of humor and might have risen to the level of Cary Grant (to whom he is perhaps comparable). When somebody said to Grant: "Gee! I'd sure like to be Cary Grant!" Grant replied: "So would I!"
There is something called "Reagan the Ideal"
It is the conservative dellusion that Reagan:
1. Never raised taxes
2. Always reacted strongly when confronted by the Soviets and Terrorism
3. Never signed laws as Gov liberalizing abortion or restricing gun use
Of course Reagan was a conservative, but he was pragmatic. he accomplished what he could and what the country would tolerate.
Because conservatism since 1980 has been so successful, some conservatives have begun to demand purity....a few years in the wilderness like after 1974 and youll see conservatives become more pragmatic