I know this isn't Star Trek but if I learned anything from that series it's "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."
I hate that people must be sacrificed to protect others but if it must be done so be it. Apparently, these surviving junkies had to play the selfish card and cause more death and chaos because Whendon thought that would be a better ending.
Go Figure!!
"these surviving junkies had to play the selfish card and cause more death and chaos because Whendon thought that would be a better ending."
I think the "selfish" "surviving junkies", as you call them, (or "misunderstood victims" including "stoner boy" as others called the pair) are symbols for the target audience (males & females) for this film.
You generally like a film if you identify with the "heroes" or "survivors"
I realize this is an older post, but if you really want to flex your moral muscles and ponder which thing overpowers which, I recommend watching the late 90s (and early 00s) television series La Femme Nikita. The show is basically a question if ends justify the means, and instead of a nice convenient answer, the viewer gets to decide. It is also a good show!
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I see little balls of sunshine in a bag!