Okay...so what does Tywin show respect for? The thousands raped and murdered on his command? His son, whom he practically disowns when he doesn't follow Tywin's wishes? Or his other son, whom he basically has always hated and now throws to the wolves even though he knows he is innocent of the crime?
If we're talking RPG terms, and no I've never played a tabletop RPG, but ... I'd say Tywin is Lawful Evil. As in, he's still a really, really fucking despicable human being despite being calculating and following certain guidelines. He may be "badass" and command with great authority, but he's a villain, an evil person, through and through. I think it's hilarious that just because he isn't batshit crazy like Cersei he is somehow "likeable."
Cersei and Tywin both, they're really awful people whose heads should be on spikes.
That might make him a cool character in a show/book, or even likeable. If Tywin Lannister was a real person, would you find him likeable? Would you root for him? If you say yes, you might be a borderline sociopath.
Like Tywin himself, actually. Tywin cares about one thing: family legacy, like you said. He will kill anyone, do any amount of horrible things, in order to ensure that. Even his own family members.
My theory was that because Tywin is "badass" people seemed to gravitate to him and like him more ... looks like I was right. :chuckles: Reminds me of Khal Drogo. Everybody loved that dude, who was essentially a rapist/murderer who made a living out of massacring and thieving innocent people. But he was buff and cool, so we'll give him a pass....