know at least for me, my problem with fiction comes most into play when nasty things are dismissed somehow - either by by simply being disappeared without explanation for it, or by being constantly trivialized - or valorized some way or another.

Very, very much so.

he does not get Macho Macho Man credit for them

I do love that about his characterization. Angel, on the other hand, seems to get that credit all the time, at least to my eyes.

I acknowledge, though, that's a bit dicey, because not everyone is going to see the long-arc, most casual viewers are just going to pick up on the nasty attitudes which are in line with the nasty attitudes we're all conditioned to expect and accept. I really don't know.

Yeah, this exactly. And it varies so much from person to person, too.