Points taken.
On your first point, I don't think the law needs to wait on everyone to change their minds and hearts. But enough lawmakers and voters have to change their minds and hearts for the systemic problems to go away.
On the second point, you're probably right. But something about the way he says it seems critical of fictional character behaviors.
Also I don't think it's meant as a criticism of the novel at all. It just means the novel is deeper than a simple morality play.