dontomasso, I think you make an excellent point about Barzini, Vito, and Michael. Michael is of a new different generation. Vito was the most respected of the Don's and Barzini was willing to begin and change with the tides. Michael on the other hand was creating rules as he went along under the guise of creating legitimacy within the family. He was not an active member of the family like his brother Sonny and was not completely privy to the protocol. However, Michael makes a much better Don than Sonny would have made.