If this chapter had been just a bit worse I'd have hated it. As it stands, it makes Itachi look very sympathetic and, bad as I hate to say it, a smart guy. I can ferry all the contempt I have for him to Danzo.
That part at the end is what sold me. Saying Sasuke could have been able to change the minds of the Uchiha really plays on the fact that the revenge seeking monster Sasuke has become is mostly due to the actions of Itachi. The real Sasuke, the one Itachi sees at least, would have found a way to deal with it all the problems without anyone getting hurt. Itachi lays the blame on himself for not giving that option to Sasuke by hiding the truth. It's a subtle appeal to Sasuke and it seems to be having an effect. Now Sasuke knows the truth and is actually being helped, in more ways than he realizes, by Itachi....finally.