It's not "apologist" if it's canon that he was just trying to make the best out of a really shitty situation. And he didn't really save Tony, most of the people with irrational prejudices against Tony (which I really can't understand, it's like they're trying to cover up anything their favorite characters might have done wrong during that time period by blaming everything on Tony, even stuff he didn't actually have anything to do with) still hate him, they just separate the movie from the comics.

Fan of Tony though I am, there are totally legitimate grievances with the character's behaviour in the last few years even if you discount the more out-there tie-ins. I really don't blame anyone who's prejudiced against the character; it's quite rational.