Trump picked Pence because Pence was considered a mainstream conservative and mainstream conservatives had their doubts about Trump. Nobody in the Uniparty was won over to Trump because of Pence. And now, if Pence gets any money, it’s from eccentrics. Smart billionaires know he’s not going anywhere.
You may indeed be right...
My hunch is there also may have been an agreement with McConnell and other powers that be to place a RINO/GOPe/Uniparty ally as Trump’s V.P.