Yes, categories aren't always water-tight. The "Deep State" doesn't have formal meetings and memberships, so in retirement Cheney and Rumsfeld might go in different directions, even though they were close when they were in power.
I liked Dole, and like him even more now compared to Bush, Romney and McCain, but he was also seen as a RINO in his day, too much Washington, too much the "tax collector for the welfare state." When Dole and Bush were running against each other in 1988 it wasn't entirely clear who was the "real conservative," because Dole had been in DC for a quarter century at that point and was part of politics as usual.
I think what you said was a fair assessment. Bob Dole may have not been an exciting politician but he was a solid patriot.
He was fortunate to have made it to 98.