I kind of feel like "Shame it wasn't needed, it would have been fun!" was kind of misaligned with the "I was acting in good faith unlike the other vultures" vibe he was trying to sell.
"Man I wasted a lot of effort but thank goodness it wasn't needed after all!" is the thing that would have rung true to the "good faith" vibe.
"Man I wasted a lot of effort but thank goodness it wasn't needed after all!" is the thing that would have rung true to the "good faith" vibe.