A funny goodbye letter doesn't make up for lying consistently to investors since before the IPO. He failed, a lot, he did not have an accident, he failed over a long period and in various ways (ripping off the shops, the accounting trick and the share value/financial results).
He's not a hero for writing this letter, he as to be treated with circonspection, and at best given a second chance under close watch.
Unless you have been in his position, running a multi-million dollar public company for the first time in your life, you don't know what mistakes you will make.
clark-kent is right. Hindsight is 20/20. I'm sure we all know Tom Brady shouldn't have made that pass that caused the game losing interception, but its hard to say if you were in his shoes at that point, that you would have done it any differently/better.
He's not a hero for writing this letter, he as to be treated with circonspection, and at best given a second chance under close watch.