I just woke up with a start, realizing this about the final episode.
SPOILER ALERT! if you haven't watched it yet.
Although I enjoyed it immensely, I never really bought the scene where Walt tries to scare the Schwartzes into funneling his money to Walt Jr.
First of all, as much of an impression as Walt made, I think the Schwartzes would still probably go to the authorities. Because that's what people like them do.
Second of all, would Walt really want to leave his son $9 million on his 18th birthday -- especially when he knows his son will be going through a period of deep uncertainty and re-examination of everything he thought he knew?
Walt understood human behavior as well as he understood chemistry. He knew the $9 million was toast -- there was no way he could ever get it to his family and, as a lump sum to his son, he wouldn't want to.
But by emphatically convincing the Schwartzes of his depravity and capacity for violence, he knew he would stoke their sympathy for Skyler and Walt Jr. His emotionally damaged son won't get to go on a binge of drugs, hookers and Dodge Challengers for his 18th birthday, but he'll get his education paid for, and his mom and little sister will get a decent place to live. Pretty much what Walt wanted when he first started cooking.
Walter White is dead. Long live Walter White.