Before this I never knew there was more than one book...that it was/is a series.  I most definitely didn't know that there had been copy cats.  I found this to be most interesting.  
I understand that the main character was a bit of a simpleton, something that lent to the hilarity of his role.  Something new that I was highly unaware of was the psychological depth of the characters within the novel as well as the novel itself.  
I do have a question that, to some, may seem rather trivial.  Is it in your opinion or do you have any evidence that perhaps the character or even the author may have had some sort of mental instability?  The behaviors of the main character lead me to think that either he had issues or that the author himself did.

Do I agree that this work should be preserved for future generations?  Yes.  If for no other reason than to save a book in a society in which technology is beginning to take over and is creating a generation of lazy.  This book is the beginning of a history of great writings and is one layer upon another upon another upon another.