And the scene where Gus stages the robbery for Jesse to stop (or something like that it's been a while) doesn't count as manipulation? I'm sure Gus came to respect him but at the same time he was a replacement for Walt.

Walt cares about Jesse too to the point where mistook his own son for him. So likewise it's not just manipulation with him.

Neither character is black and white but Gus is undoubtedly worse than Walt is so I'm a bit baffled that everyone hates Walt while treating Gus like some sassy HBIC.