I have read Nicholas and Alexandra, as well as Massie's later book on the forensics involved when the remains of the family were discovered.
I don't find an indecisive or unresolved person "nice"; I find him a coward who is willing to be swayed by evil rather than have his boat rocked. An enabler of bad behavior is just as at fault as the person who commits the crimes.
Same here Royalcello and Palestrina. What the book showed me the most is that he allowed his wife to be too influential and by default Rasputin wrecked the monarchy and country. Alexandra wasn't exactly suited to the very social role of Tsarina as well. Nicholas was too weak in dealing with his wife; as for their attempt to escape, it was largely due to anti-German sentiments during the first World War that prevented the King of England from allowing the Russian royal family in.