Things like these makes me realize how little we know about the functioning of brain. Manipulating brain digitally would be perhaps one of the biggest technological revolution after industrial revolution.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity". I don't think the makers wanted to create a controversy -- especially on a sensitive issue like sexualisation of minors. This was more of a disregard on their part.
I have read his book "The Last Lecture" and I found it to be made up and over the top. The motivation he lists seem to be contrived and he comes off as pretty arrogant and narcissistic. Though I liked the part at the end where he discusses the motivation behind writing the book -- some sort of memory of him for his children.