I say Herzog deserves a Kubrick or Kurosawa-size fan base and AGUIRRE is his masterpiece.
Herzog definitely deserves a serious fan base. He pulled off a remake of "Nosferatu"! If that doesn't give him the props, then Aguirre should. Or Fitzcarraldo, for that matter- he hauled a real riverboat over a damn mountain!
Like Kinski said after being asked why he keeps working with Herzog when he hates his guts: "He is crazy. He is crazier than I am. That's why I work with him."

Case in point: watch the short doc "Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe"- yep, he lost a bet to Errol Morris, and he cooked one of his leather shoes (with onions, potatoes, etc.). He eats the whole thing- sole included?