I'd push back a little on that - the audience was introduced to genius, billionaire, playoy, philanthropist Tony Stark and went along his journey of self reflection and healing from losing his parents, being betrayed by his business partner, and having his company undermind by his government. Taking to drinking and pushing away those who care for him were human responses to those incredible life stressing events. The "Tony Stark has a heart" ultimately paid off for the audience after the saga concluded and it felt like it meant something.
Introducing a character and then immediately taking away their intellectual capacity to forment drama seems disingenuous.