I’m with you Midnight Dreary, I think that’s his whole focus. I don’t think he gives a fig what the townspeople think of him. All he’s interested in is his son. Which makes you wonder, depending how the finale works out and if he finds out about Belle, how will that effect his plans?
I don’t know if it’s been mentioned, but has anyone else noticed that as the curse is weakening he’s turning into Rumple more and more. Just in his last two encounters with Regina, I could see Rumple’s mannerisms popping out. It’s like he’s turning into a human version of Rumple, if that makes sense. He’s doing the hand flourishes and his voice is changing subtly.
Keeper of Rumplestiltskin's and Neal's spears and war paint and crystal ball.