^Damn, spot-on. I was literally about to write something along the lines of that. The bond he had with Aayla was beautiful and emotional. He deeply cared for her, which speaks volumes about his character. Also, not to forget he was one of the most powerful Jedi of his generation.
The real trouble came into play when he went undercover for Dooku. Wrestling with the dark side made him dangerously volatile and unpredictable, raising valid concerns about his stability. While his dedication to overcoming his past is admirable, the risks associated with his struggles during that period cannot be ignored.
So, it all comes down to the time frame.