The idea of a distributed electronic currency predated bitcoin. What Satoshi did was solve a couple of remaining problems with the predecessors. Thinking of him as a "visionary" is a mistake.
That is arguably one of Satoshi's biggest victories.
By removing himself from the picture Bitcoin stands alone, controlled by the masses - which is exactly how it ought be. If instead Al Gore created Bitcoin, it will be intrinsically tied with his name as some sort of central person which is contrary to the entire idea. The reason I think this is particularly important is because decentralization is generally going to be seen as intuitively impossible to laymen.
And the possibility of a person is always greater than the reality. Fischer is still the greatest chess champion to ever live in the minds of many, even though he only played in one world championship - and against a champion who was on his way out in any case. Him disappearing after a meteoric rise paradoxically cemented his legacy. Satoshi is a much more meaningful creator than John Doe could ever be.
