Red - you missed the point. Repairing image damages can be extremly expensive. It was a bargain for Bill this way.
Bill Gates could really care less about 'image' have you seen him? He dismisses anyone involved with charity work (actors and such) who he thinks is involved just for 'image'. I'm positive he doesn't give a flying f&(# about 'image'.
Was Bill Gates really ruthless in business? He wasn't that bad and I say that knowing some truly ruthless businessmen. Bill Gates is an agreessive capitalist no doubt but I know guys who are much worse personally, the type of people who are in business for the sole sake of putting other people out of business with absolutely no recognition of community within the industry. Bill Gates would not have risen so high if he were that much of a jerk because trust me karma works quick enough that he would have been stopped much earlier.
JFK, you're just being kind of silly. You're always about conspiracy theories and believe people are out for the worst. Now as it pertains to President Bush ... I think you're closer to the mark. Bill Gates on the other hand ... I don't think is so bad. He's intelligent and in the past has used that to manipulate his way into certain positions. He also suffers from a minor case of Asperger's Syndrome which causes him to focus mostly on ideas rather than on conforming to social intracacies. In other words pandering to humanity to look good isn't in his DNA, only if he sees true merit in the concept outside of traditional social bounds (i.e. looking good and fitting in) is he likely to be interested in it.
Additionally, his most ruthless business decisions were made prior to settling down with his wife Melinda. Back then he was also slammed a bit for not giving enough to charity. She changed him significantly and is the real driving force behind these recent great contributions to charity.