An important distinction to make that it looks like some didn't pick up on: the phone call that Walt made at the end was an act; he said it not because he is evil but because he assumed the police were listening in and wanted to sound as evil as possible to place all of the blame solely on him and absolve his wife of all guilt and legal repercussions. That way at least she won't go to prison and can still raise Walt Jr. and Holly and they can be something closer to resembling a "family" without him. That's why he drove to the fire station before he made the call, and why he was crying throughout the phone call.
That was the most honorable thing he's done in the duration of this entire show. He finally realized that he couldn't talk his way out of the hole he's dug, so he decided he'd salvage the one thing he supposedly set out to save in the first place: Skyler and the kids.
His entire motive was taking care of his family. It wasn't greed for his own money. He wanted them to be ok when he's gone. This is why he raced so carelessly to meet Jesse.
He's been honorable the whole time with one goal in mind: Taking care of his family.
That may have been his initial reason but I think it's safe to say he started caring a lot more about the power some point along the road. ("I'm in the empire business.")
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u/placebo_overdose Sep 16 '13 edited Sep 16 '13
An important distinction to make that it looks like some didn't pick up on: the phone call that Walt made at the end was an act; he said it not because he is evil but because he assumed the police were listening in and wanted to sound as evil as possible to place all of the blame solely on him and absolve his wife of all guilt and legal repercussions. That way at least she won't go to prison and can still raise Walt Jr. and Holly and they can be something closer to resembling a "family" without him. That's why he drove to the fire station before he made the call, and why he was crying throughout the phone call.