Imagine if Hero or Villain wasn't a game setting but rather a set of "standings" you receive for performing actions. Like if you rob a bank you get a +5 for your vilainous score. If you help someone you get +5 to your Hero score.
Instead of strictly heroes and villains it should be more like RL where nobody is %100 good or evil, just shades of grey.
Even mafia guys raise families and go to church and help their children with homework.
Even cops come home and download porn or smoke weed.
Being a hero or villain is a profession not a philosophy on life, you could be a cat burglar but otherwise be a nice person. You could be Preisdent and a sleaze.
Not every guy who robs a bank is Charles Manson, in fact MOST people on the darker side of the law are usually morally neutral, that is, they sell you whatever you need, you need drugs they sell you drugs, they dont make a moral decision of drugs are good or drugs are bad, they are just providing a good or service to anybody who wants it.
Basically criminals are mercenaries in mindset.
Recluse is a twit. I'm fairly villanous in my point of view but I would not follow him. I would live in Paragon City and quietly sell anything people need. There would be no need for armies and fortresses.