I'm done assuming things as well, I think I know where oda is going with this but some things just aren't always clear. From now on, I'm just looking at feats and portrayal.I don't think Cracker will get the Chinjao treatment, but because characters like Chinjao exist, I know to calm down when Oda hypes up new characters at the beginning of arcs. I've seen it too many times to jump to conclusions, I will wait.
Personally he seems to be very strong, like bare minimum Doflamingo level from the "looks" of it. But that means absolutely nothing knowing Oda, he could turn out to be a bum.
Like you said, it should mean something but It could not.