Are the tangents about misusing the trope and Did Not Do The Research meant to be aimed at the authors of the works listed in the examples? Because they generally don't seem to be trying to specifically refute Machiavelli's philosophy; that connection is an invention of the trope description. Most of these are just: The villain is a dick. The hero isn't. Therefore, the hero has more loyal subordinates. That people might incorrectly take this to refute Machiavelli doesn't really reflect on the author.