Posts like these.
For one character its a "nerf" when others are "inept" or "stupid" or "weak". All depending on who you favor with no consistency at all.
Emotional attachment is also a form of weakness that can be exploited. It makes Kizaru more human.
Sorry you expected a braindead killing machine.
I am looking forwards to the meltdown when Akainu gets into a moral dilemma.
For a character perspective, Kizaru being emotional conflicted is good, like you said, it gives him more humanity and deep. But knowing Oda, the execution will fail... it will be remember as someone who betrayed and killed his friend against his will, following orders like the killing machine you mentioned, and will live the rest of his life with regrets. There's not honor there.
So by the end, we got an Admiral that didn't shine against Luffy, didn't show awakening, didn't show COC, and what botters me the most... didn't do anything spectacular in power levels like an Admiral is suppose to do!!! why? Because he was conflicted BUT still killed his friends like a killing machine, and will be lay down for the rest of the arc. If I were you I wouldn't expect Kizaru to do something relevant in this arc anymore.
Again, nerfed by plot!
If Kizaru stand up and fight the gorosei and help the SH escape I will eat my words, but that's too good for Oda.