I think you've just hit on two schools of thought. One school of thought is due unto others as you would have them due unto you. I believe PG once told a star

I think you've just hit on two schools of thought. One school of thought is due unto others as you would have them due unto you. I believe PG once told a startup that they should pay back all other investors first. This is an example of this. PG didn't come out ahead, but maybe the startup founders got to save face. Reputation is more valuable than currency anyway. The other school of though is that we are to make the world a better place (more fair and just). This view of the world justifies almost any end. This seems to be the approach that the Redditor took.