You present some very valid points here. I agree with you for the most part, but in my lifetime I believe I have also witnessed situations where people in power are enticed to become corrupt and eventually temptation becomes overwhelming. This is one reason why I think it is a good idea to limit terms of political power to 2 terms.
It always depends on the person, power itself is just another tool that can be used in a multitude of ways. A hammer never need crack open a skull.
That's true, but a hammer will not ask you to break any skulls. When in power, then the rats come out and try bribing or threatening those in power in order to use the people in power as tools.