1. He has his own goals, that stemmed from his past and instead of following the cliche "Everybody buddy buddy", he actually recognized his own short-comings and weaknesses in himself in order to fulfil his purpose. He suffered from an inferoruty and superioruty complex all at once and demostrated the dynamics of how losing the emotion of love can trigger those to make drastic and stuff choices, choices that people everyday succumb to.
2. The only person who manipulated him was Itachi. He used both Obito and Oro to gain power and achieve his goals. If he was manipulated by Oro, he would have never taken him out. If he was manipulated by Obito he would have never asked Danzo and Itachi whether the truth about the Uchiha Massacre was true AND he would of listened to the Zetsu's when he got his eyes transplanted and helped Obito in his plans.................. he never did that did he So much for being manipulated. He has always had his own goals and has used whoever he can to achieve them. He is someone that does whatever it takes to achieve ones goals, even if he has to do things he's not proud of.
3. His character is extremely complex and dynamic, but why should I expect you to agree or understand that? You just said all he does is change his mind? You mean like when he completed his goal Killing Itachi? What is supposed to do? Keep killing a dead man? Or how about when he said he would burn down the village, he only changed his mind AFTER speaking with Itachi, Kages and Hagaromo and EVEN THEN, his thinking was still the same because instead of just burning down the village, he was gonna burn down the entire Shinobi system that had plagued EVERYONE. But please, tell me of these many times he changed his mind? I wanna read these.....
Best character of the show bar none..... there's a reason you made a thread about him....... again.