that's kind of...morbid. i don't think we should be thanking him for dying, although i truly hope he's in a much better place. nobody knew his spiritual condition except for him. I would like to think he's in Heaven. I hope he is.
I don't think it's that people didn't care, it's just they weren't aware of what he had done until it was brought to life with his death.
For example I watched two of his films after he died that i didn't know existed but it wasn't that i didn't care before i just didn't know :S
I have been a Fan for over 8 years since I saw The Patriot. Just because I didn't sit and post on forum pages doesn't make me or anyone else less of a fan.
For example I watched two of his films after he died that i didn't know existed but it wasn't that i didn't care before i just didn't know :S