He isn't wrong

He's got to be the best pirate I've never heard of

Yes and no. It's important to not be publicly famous as a smuggler. It's also important to be known to the right people as a good smuggler. So a good smuggler will get a reputation as being a good smuggler. To get a reputation you have be slightly famous or at least well known to the community that gave you the recognition for that reputation. The only time it truly doesn't matter is when the only person you smuggle for is yourself.

As I've said before, Han and Davos are the same. Han wasn't famous in the galaxy until *after* his smuggling career was over, and he joined the Alliance.