He was very clear that the reason he chose to do it that way was because the world wouldn't have been able to see their humanity. Maybe he didn't give them the benefit, but like I said earlier--do we believe that video game characters are alive? Or that creepy ass Sophia robot? No, of course we don't. And if someone came to you and said that they had proof they were (regardless of whether or not it's true, and let's for the sake of discussion say in this scenario it is, and they do have proof), you would most likely think they were stark raving mad. I know I would.

It looks like we're getting more Dolores and Arnold flashbacks this season, and possibly we will even get scenes of Arnold alone. But based on everything I've seen, I'm willing to consider Arnold as benevolent. Especially considering why he threw himself into the project--at worst, it was to find a way to bring his son back to life. Flawed, sure, but not evil in any way. He showed he truly came to care for Dolores, knowing she was showing the capability to be alive. She wasn't there yet, but he knew she could, and eventually would be. And same for all of the hosts.

But Ford? Smurf Ford. Even his reasoning for why he did what he did is flawed. They hosts didn't need to experience pain and torment to gain sentience, as is shown that Dolores started achieving it not long after being made.*


*I still love him because Anthony Hopkins, but the smurfer was evil.