I was attempting (badly I suspect) to suggest that "kinder than some" is still not much of an improvement on the tone.

Portraying him as a "generally well-meaning, inexperienced hero whose biggest problem was that he was getting shit on by the rest of his team" is still feeding the expectations of the parts of the fanbase that assumed that was all he ever was. To me that's still "feeding the haters" and isn't a good idea.

Morrison, who has confessed a deal of liking for Kyle's character ignored that take on him, and showed him as the creative, confident hero, regardless of what the prevalent trend was.