Thats absolutely correct. Most of the gangster fiction humanizes the Mob and makes them appear as modern day Robin Hoods. Puzo, in writing "The Godfather" was no better.

When the movie was being made and it came time for Vito's death scene (in the garden) he was supposed to have said, "Life is so beautiful" just before he died. One of the local church groups protested LOUDLY that this utterance made Vito appear too "human" and they fought with the studio (and eventually won) to have this line deleted.

We all love and admire Vito for many different reasons but we forget that he made his living off the misery of others. But, hey, thats what sells books.