Unpopular Opinion: I don't really get the legendary status of Jean-Pierre Rampal

I know he’s widely considered the godfather of modern flute playing, but listening to his recordings today, I really struggle to hear the appeal compared to modern standards.

A few things that stand out to me:

• Rhythm: He has a noticeable habit of rushing through passages rather than keeping a steady pulse.
• Clarity: Technically, his fingework feels a lot less clean than what we expect from top players today, and intonation wise he plays sharp very often.
• Tone & Style: His sound can be surprisingly airy, and can be quite dry in articulated passages, and his Baroque interpretations lean heavily into an outdated, dense Romantic style.

Obviously, he was a pioneer for the instrument, but do you think his actual playing holds up today?