The ignoring of canon or retconning takes some getting used to. Unfortunately if comic writers didn't do this...then I think they would go nuts since there is a LOT of canon and other stuff to filter through.
Anyways, why did Tony do it. Er, self-destructive nature? Okay that was the easiest way to explain it...so here is another way you could interpret it.
I think it could be seen as a way for Tony to punish himself. I know, crazy, but here me out. From what I understand of Tony's personality, perhaps it was to ensure he'd have a loose-loose scenario. If his friends, whom I think he believed just truly had it with him, let him die then that would be that. On the other hand if they let him live, then I guess a good way to punish yourself is to erase your brain.
Imagine waking up one day and all your friends are angry with you, your company is gone, you have to accept the fact that you did all these horrible ("necessary"?) things, a freaking invasion took place, and Osborn came into power...and everything happened under your watch. You have no memory of anything which means there is no way you can properly defend your actions - and so you just have to rollover and take whatever comes your way. All you have is your own belief that in the end you were doing what you thought was right, but the truth is you'll never know. You'll never know what you are truly capable of - and I guess it was A LOT since Steve ended up getting shot.
Another way you can look at it is, yes - Tony wanted to die at all cost. If his friends pulled the plug - goodbye. The brain!delete scenario essentially killed off the THAT Tony since we are all shaped by our past experiences. That Tony who after Extremis went through Registration and all the following events is "as good as dead." Unless we encounter retcon...but as is...we assume there is no undo. We can also give Tony the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't in his right frame of mind so why does logic really apply?
Looking back to a Marvel writers standpoint...why pre-Extremis? Simple answer - to depower Tony. With Extremis, Tony got crazy powerful...so Marvel took it back. Like how they did with Spidey....they hit the reset button.
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Anyways, why did Tony do it. Er, self-destructive nature? Okay that was the easiest way to explain it...so here is another way you could interpret it.
I think it could be seen as a way for Tony to punish himself. I know, crazy, but here me out. From what I understand of Tony's personality, perhaps it was to ensure he'd have a loose-loose scenario. If his friends, whom I think he believed just truly had it with him, let him die then that would be that. On the other hand if they let him live, then I guess a good way to punish yourself is to erase your brain.
Imagine waking up one day and all your friends are angry with you, your company is gone, you have to accept the fact that you did all these horrible ("necessary"?) things, a freaking invasion took place, and Osborn came into power...and everything happened under your watch. You have no memory of anything which means there is no way you can properly defend your actions - and so you just have to rollover and take whatever comes your way. All you have is your own belief that in the end you were doing what you thought was right, but the truth is you'll never know. You'll never know what you are truly capable of - and I guess it was A LOT since Steve ended up getting shot.
Another way you can look at it is, yes - Tony wanted to die at all cost. If his friends pulled the plug - goodbye. The brain!delete scenario essentially killed off the THAT Tony since we are all shaped by our past experiences. That Tony who after Extremis went through Registration and all the following events is "as good as dead." Unless we encounter retcon...but as is...we assume there is no undo. We can also give Tony the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't in his right frame of mind so why does logic really apply?
Looking back to a Marvel writers standpoint...why pre-Extremis? Simple answer - to depower Tony. With Extremis, Tony got crazy powerful...so Marvel took it back. Like how they did with Spidey....they hit the reset button.