I doubt you understood them. Buddhists don't worship Buddha idols or anyone: Buddha considered such devotion or worship unenlightened/unskilled & instead encouraged self-reliance in one's journey to nirvana. They're more contemplating the enlightenment they identify with Buddha as they meditate on their own way to achieve that. A Shrek figure may work just as well for their purpose: enlightenment to them means shedding ego & not letting vicissitudes/nuisances cling them to samsara.