It’s not overcomplicating anything, his actions makes zero sense because you can point to multiple occasions where Kizaru directly endangers all his friends lives without any guarantee that the Strawhats would save them.
The guy literally went out his way to fight Sentomaru when he was ordered by Saturn not to lmao.
Like here, what, is Kizaru just gambling on Bonney being able to control the Pacifista? Hoping that Sanji will somehow be able to save all of them in time?
Cunningly directing all of his shots to miss vital organs?
The beginning of his Oscar-winning perfomance where he pretends to be surprised that Luffy has attacked him just before he cuts Bonney and Kuma in half?
Continuing to showcase his thespian talents by adding his gift for comedic reaction?
We can compare it to Garp in Marineford in that it would be really fucking stupid if
after Garp took his obvious ”I can’t actually do this so am going to sandbag to Luffy” dive, he then... killed Ace anyway and put Luffy in literal mortal danger several times afterwards, relying on the Whitebeard Pirates to save him at the last minute.
Then complained about Sengoku daring to point out that he half assed things.
Kizaru’s story was compelling because it was coming across as the anti Garp in that he chose his orders rather than his loved ones, while Garp took the alternative approach. Bad thing to do, but the determination to do it can be respected.
Bipolar Kizaru who feeds Luffy once and does absolutely nothing else to help his friends, far less compelling.
Or I suppose he’s to be applauded for giving up when there was literally five Gorosei rampaging around the island and the only thing that saved Bonney and Kuma was a robot having a magic haki bomb rope.
Now, Kizaru genuinely just comes across as pathetic. And maybe that’s intentional from Oda’s behalf, given he did call himself a sad man, but I‘m not sure that it is entirely coming across the way it is intended.