I’m not saying it excuses him. I’m just saying he is a villain, so it is only natural that he would do villainous deeds. 🙂 Everyone is just so surprised that he would do something horrible like that–of course he would. He ripped Aurora’s heart out and worked with Cora of all people.
I don’t think the concern is over Hook, it’s for Belle. Minor characters are always at risk for being killed off. Graham, Archie (possibly), and even little Henry was at risk for being killed off last season. So, I think people are just nervous because they don’t want anything bad to happen to Belle. 😉