Is there any indication they’ve actually changed? Usually not. They just don’t like that consequences are happening to them, personally, and so they’re crying about it. Most of the time they had no problem killing innocent people or sending their own goons to die trying to stop the hero from getting to them, the tears and emotional manipulation are just the last ditch effort.
And if you spare them they’ll probably do it all over again.
Is there any indication they’ve actually changed? Usually not. They just don’t like that consequences are happening to them, personally, and so they’re crying about it. Most of the time they had no problem killing innocent people or sending their own goons to die trying to stop the hero from getting to them, the tears and emotional manipulation are just the last ditch effort.
And if you spare them they’ll probably do it all over again.
Think of all the lives Batman would have saved if he just killed the Joker on first contact.
Batman at least has a code. He doesn’t kill the minions or the Joker. He isn’t judge, jury, and executioner of Gotham.