I think he's famous more more on how he was able to retrieve his stuff.
And I do have to admit that when we go the pool we don't take much but we do take: a room key (usually it is set up for charging privledges which basically is another credit card), some cash for a drink or snack while at the pool, and our camera (in case I want some pics of DD swimming), a phone (so we have a clock), maybe a book, sunscreen, and snack (if we don't take cash). And while it's just stuff, you still get pretty peeved when you find it's been taken from you.
Most of the time when your stuff is stolen, it's gone. If your credit card or bank card is stolen, sure you can get the charges reversed, but it's always a headache. The criminal wasn't stopped in that case as well, and there's only a trail as to where as to where he/she has been. I think what makes this guy a "hero" is that he had a tool that could help him and he was able to get his things back before too much damage was done. Also, after reading his personal blog today, there was no way Disney could have apprehended the suspect or legally searched his bag. Thanks to the victim having a GPS tool, he was able to quickly locate where his stuff was at, and then Disney used to loophole of the bag check area at Magic Kingdom to search the suspect's bag.
I really don't think taking personal things to the pool is stupid. I admit that I leave my park bag on our stroller when at the parks, but I keep everything valueable in mini-hipster worn across my body, it's always on me, even on rides, nothign of value is in the park bag (ponchos, extra change of clothes for DD, sunscreen, etc....). When/if we buy merchandise we always have it sent to the front of the park, because I really don;t want to walk aroudn with an extra bag all day. There is a standard here that YOU DON'T TOUCH OTHER PEOPLES STUFF and if you do, espcially by taking someone's stuff without permission then that is a crime.
Again, I think it's just the fact that technology was able to help himj and he was able to get nearly everything back. The guy is not ranting and raving against Disney for keeping his stuff safe. He knows that there is always a chance of having something taken, and he's a "hero" for being able to take it into his own hands and get his belongings.