[steveklabnik]

I was discussing this with someone earlier on IM: I think that there's also a lot of fruit in a "_why as myth" angle. He himself said what you said, in the Poignant Guide, the part where he talks about his own suicide:

    > Blix was right. I’m in so [sic, should be 'no'] shape to write this book.
    > Goodbye until I can shake this.
    > 
    > Aw, come on!!! You're leaving us here??
    > 
    > Ha! I was right! He flipped his lid! He's all burned out
    > and he's going to shoot himself in the head!
    > 
    > But what about us? This doesn't bode well for us.
    > 
    > Oh, *we'll* be fine. We're famous. Other people _will_ sketch
    > our likeness.
    > 
    > We'll be twice as famous when he's gone. People can be
    > so idolatrous with their mourning!

http://mislav.uniqpath.com/poignant-guide/book/chapter-6.htm...