Entombed included rock structures into clandestine, but saying that album is simply rock with growling tells me you've never listened to it. They started making rock with growls on Wolverine Blues and every album past that. Control Denied was more "Breaking the Law" styled Judas Priest than anything, and Death had been that way for years.
I don't know if Chuck ever claimed to invent death metal, but everyone pretty claims that, despite Sepultura having a more advanced album out before Master of Puppets was even released. Also, in the Human rerelease I own, the linear notes go on about Chuck wanting to put technicality and melody into metal.
I don't really care how he died or what faith he was, but he is overpraised in the world and apologizing for his failures by stating that 'other people did it too' or some meaningless stuff about label troubles is not helping matters.
Also, I've heard many reports, well rumors I guess, that he was a complete control freak. Some artists liked him like Gene Hoglan, others couldn't stand it. Quitting the band while they are on a European tour and leaving them to figure it out without a job to come home to doesn't speak well for his character either.
Death was a great introduction for me into this music, as they made some great material early on that I still enjoy, but once you start to explore there are too many better things out there to worry so much about one band, let alone worship them at the altar and mourn their leader's death.