People can say what they want about the Bonannos but the way they went legit and died pretty well off financially is something to be said for. The early Northern California bosses did the same. The Don Corleone fantasy, personified. Using the life as a means to an end was the way to go. Then again, some stayed active af and still lived to ripe old ages as free men. Carlo, Accardo, etc.

"...the successful annihilation of organized crime's subculture in America would rock the 'legitimate' world's foundation, which would ultimately force fundamental social changes and redistributions of wealth and power in this country. Meyer Lansky's dream was to bond the two worlds together so that one could not survive without the other." - Dan E. Moldea