I'm not gonna argue that Kai is a great philosopher, but...
... his fans respond to him because he is introspective, if you want to refrain from calling him deep. That's where the whole ESPN connection comes from. He is a unique character. I don't think he's an idiot. I don't know if he's a genius, but he approaches his profession with passion and thoughtfulness and is excellent at conveying that passion to others.
And that is the thing that separates him. He has a passion for the artistic side of bodybuilding. The ability to create, shape, mold one's body.
He has been very consistent with his "inspirational" talk, and he exudes a positive vibe.
Maybe those whole guest posing getups are a way for him to express that artist side---remember he has been known for that for a while now. So, the crowds know what they are going to get when he guest poses.