De gustibus, Tim. I don't think his ability as a performer has any relevance to the quality of his writing. though it's true that ordinary poetry can seem exceptional when well performed. The point I'm making about my dislike of his writing is partly that it's so much a performance. There's much too much "aren't I clever!" for my taste. Certainly his memory was remarkable, and I envy that.
Overall, I suspect that his reputation will settle down, and the current tendency to hyperbole will look a bit embarrassing in a few years. Sean O'Brien and John Kinsella are putting him on a level with Browning - Browning!.
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