Comparison makes all the difference. I wouldn’t call him a totalitarian psychopath, a coward maybe. People liked him because he was at least real about things and had a good attitude. He would bring up real data about people’s salary right after Xi says there’s no poverty in China. He was quite publicly against all the lockdowns and restrictions during covid even though it didn’t change anything. I wouldn’t call any CCP leader at that level a great leader or what so ever. He had his share of things I didn’t like or agree with, but in comparison a much more decent and honest person.