The thing is like, “money can’t buy happiness” is a completely fine and true statement when taken to mean that you can’t replace friendship and joy and spiritual fulfillment with material possessions. The newest iPhone will not make you happy the same way being greeted by your pet after a hard day will or spending quality time with people who make you feel valued, etc. But when it’s used as a cudgel against cries against wealth inequality and the mental, physical, and emotional toll of poverty, as well as the barriers it creates, then it sucks very much.
The best character development is when the antagonist doesn't even really change or redeem himself. Like no, he still sucks, he's just on our side now.