Sprout contributed to everyone getting magic back

[Pentium100 2,122]

Here's what I thought - if Sprout did not become a dictator and build his machine, magic would not have returned. 

Sunny would have found the Earth Pony crystal, put all three crystals together and nothing would have happened, because the ponies would still have hated each other. However, Sprout was the common enemy who drove everyone else to work together to stop him. Because they worked together, they managed to get the magic back.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Pentium100

[Will Guide 21,360]

Exactly how when Discord brought Tirek Chrysalis and Cozy Glow together, It ultimately led to all of Equestria not just the ponies but all the races coming together to aid our heroes and defeat the Terrible Trio

[Misty Shadow 7,862]

Things that are intended for evil turn out for good, exactly as nature intended. And it's less irking in Sprout's case than it is with Discord's, since Sprout does what he does after becoming more of a jerk, not supposedly less of one. 

[Megas 27,622]

Yeah let’s just forget he just wanted to murder non-earth ponies 

[Pentium100 2,122]

52 minutes ago, Megas said:

Yeah let’s just forget he just wanted to murder non-earth ponies 

No, let's not  , but he was literally the necessary evil to bring everyone else together to stop him. Uniting against a common enemy is easier than uniting for a common goal.

By the way, he did try to murder earth ponies as well, at least Sunny and Hitch. Also because his weapons have bad accuracy, he would have friendly fire incidents as well.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Pentium100

[Tom Gallagher 33,588]

He’s still an incredibly weak villain! 

Edited October 19, 2021 by TomDaBombMLP

[EpicEnergy 23,218]

Without the Nightmare Moon incident, Twilight might have never met her friends and, as seen in the season 5 finale, it could have let to undesirable outcomes. So yeah, it turns out that villains can be essential after all. However, I don't consider Sprout a villain but rather an antagonist.