He recognized there was a portal coming, thought about it briefly, and grabbed the shard first. I mean, that’s in plain simple terms. You can’t wake the girl if you don’t have the girl. And as far as the finale of season 3a goes, he was sacrificing himself for everyone, not just Belle. So I’m not sure it’s the same. But sure, if you want to include that then that’s fine. But I can’t think of a single other instance where he chose her over power.
And I’m not sure I buy that he feels that whenever he doesn’t have power, he loses people, so that’s why he wants the power. He lost his son Bae when he had all the power. Belle kicked him out of storybrooke when he had all his power. And Belle put herself under the sleeping curse when he had all his power. It’s the choices he’s making with the power that is screwing him, not being weak and not having the power. Maybe that is something he will never understand. He thinks he needs more power to have everything he wants so he doesn’t lose anyone or anything, but really, all he needs to do is give up his power and make the right choices, and he can have his happy ending. But at this point, for me, another violent switch in his beliefs, choices, and values in an attempt to right the Rumbelle ship would just be nauseating as I think he is just simply past the point of no return.