> The fact that the stereo is separated in the end does not conclusively mean that it was all for naught.

Of course. Much was achieved and that included systemic harm to those around him.

He was a man who never understood that he was prioritizing things and accomplishments over people. I suspect empathy didn't factor into the calculations in his head.

I'm not damning him here. Having been him to a degree, I can testify the distance to working empathy isn't trivial. It gets crossed with a great deal of time and difficulty. Further, I see signs of pronounced OCD which may complicate his challenges in ways I may not understand.

These things are good to understand. So is the harm he brought to people who trusted him.