His transparency really does make him tolerable/lovable (I lean toward the latter, myself, but then, I have a thing for characters who need to be taken care of) because even when he's saying awful things, you know what's behind it (which is fear, usually).

He really is such an innocent character at heart, like a puppy who occasionally chews on your shoes or pees on the carpet. You can't stay mad for long. *pets him*