People have said both sides of his character. It's not like everyone is focusing on the good or bad. I think most of what has been said has been fair. You do things and people judge you for them, that is life. People act like judging is this terrible thing when it's a natural brain process.
And by your logic, if I committed a bunch of heinous crimes, but 30 years down the line started being really nice and charitable, it would make people flogging my past actions sad and pathetic?