I generally agree with you, but if I had to steelman SBF's actions: 1. Prosecutors don't operate independently of the court of public opinion. They can throw t

I generally agree with you, but if I had to steelman SBF's actions: 1. Prosecutors don't operate independently of the court of public opinion. They can throw the book at you (e.g. the George Floyd officers) or let you off easy (e.g. other officers who historically did similar things but did not face the same charges). 2. The current perception is that he committed fraud (like Madoff), and if convicted for that would likely go to prison for the rest of his life. 3. He's clearly not innocent of wrongdoing, and there's too many people involved who are cooperating with authorities, so just being quiet doesn't help him as much (in contrast to being found at a crime scene with no witnesses). 4. If he can get a conviction only of criminal negligence then perhaps he can get out of prison faster. 5. Thus perhaps if he can loudly admit to being a bumbling idiot and super negligent, it might sway the public opinion to criminal negligence instead of outright fraud.