A great question, but not sure of the definitive answer, other than I think it is very much a generation thing, depending on who you grew up with.
I will go further back and cite Max Murray as probably a good example.
His goals to games ratio, was far superior than those immediately before him, like Billy Simpson and Willie Thornton, but despite that, I doubt he was ever loved to the degree that his predecessors were.
Murray's stats at the time, would have him in the Top 5 prolific Goalscorers in our entire history, alongside, R.C Hamilton, Wullie Reid, Jimmy Fleming and Jimmy Smith, but again, despite Murray's goalscoring exploits, I suspect most people from your Dad's generation, would have more love for Simpson and Thornton.
Millar and Brand who never quite reached the Goals to Games that Murray did before them, would still be held in much higher regard than Murray, by those who grew up late 50's/ mid 60's. Then came the teenage sensation that was Jim Forrest, who broke all sorts of scoring records, was two footed, and also a great passer of the ball, but that generation absolutely loved Jimmy Millar, for his all round work rate, effort and toughness, and I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in their 70's now, who does not still love Jimmy Millar.
Those of us born late 50's/early 60's grew up absolutely worshipping the hype, the price, the instant Hat Tricks, and the all round ability of Colin Stein to a degree that was probably not even afforded world class stars before him in Baxter and Henderson.
Having said that, getting back to your original query, those older pop pickers who would have witnessed Millar, Brand, Forrest and Stein in their prime, I suspect, most of them would have Stein just outside the top 3 of the 4.
Ask the same question in perhaps 15 years or so, when the older pop pickers, have popped their clogs, then you might find that Colin Colin Colin Stein, the greatest Centre Forward the World has ever seen, will be held in much higher esteem.