The opening narration confirms that the Dude is in fact, not a hero (emphasis mine):
[…] I only mention it because sometimes there’s a man… I won’t say a hero, 'cause, what’s a hero? But sometimes, there’s a man. And I’m talkin’ about the Dude here. Sometimes, there’s a man, well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that’s the Dude, in Los Angeles. And even if he’s a lazy man - and the Dude was most certainly that. Quite possibly the laziest in Los Angeles County, which would place him high in the runnin’ for laziest worldwide. But sometimes there’s a man, sometimes, there’s a man. Aw. I lost my train of thought here. But… aw, hell. I’ve done introduced him enough.
So, you’re telling me heroes drink milk? Ok, I’m onboard.
only one of these could be called a hero.
leon is at BEST a very dark shade of morally gray as a former child soldier who was raised to be a hitman by the mob.
and the dude is just the dude. he just wanted his damn rug back.
The opening narration confirms that the Dude is in fact, not a hero (emphasis mine):