Stuck between 2 and 3. How they're doing things rn is stupid but they could change.

BoS's mission is to secure, improve, and release technology. It is in theory a noble one but it is tainted by the elder council's prejudice towards outsiders. They teach that outsiders shouldn't be trusted by default and most chapters follow that belief. People like Lyons, Arthur, Rahmani, and the Midwest council all went against those traditions but otherwise haven't done anything to change the perception of their organization (either internally or externally) on a large scale.

Here's what I think: It is absolutely batshit crazy that no one in Arthur's brotherhood chapter even thought to seize the technology from the Institute. Just because the research is being used to sow chaos doesn't mean that it can't be altered to serve your needs. Hell, in America Rising 2, you can do just that with the Enclave (preferably with Whitehill in charge). The Enclave, the faction with the most pre-war technology that has historically chosen to make the wasteland a worse place with it. I mean, imagine the rep you'd get from having the commonwealth boogeyman on a leash. And though the game doesn't state it, something tells me the brotherhood would have the Institute's scientists either imprisioned or executed after the place is blown to bits. You know, as opposed to having them covert to your ideology (because not all of them are amoral little shits). Then there's the mojave chapter of the brotherhood, good lord, what were they thinking picking a fight with the NCR (the faction with so much territory, guns, etc). And what a good idea to not utilize more useful technologies. I don't have anything to say about the California Brotherhood, the Tactics Brotherhood, or the Appalachian Brotherhood.

The cause itself is noble. The interpretation and execution of the Brotherhood's mission by the various chapters leaves something to be desired.

I said "Could Do with Changes " as many members no matter their ranking have voiced different views compared to Elder Maxson. While former members whether they return or are exiled share similar views that although the BOS is useful in ways they are mostly comprised of one agenda and not solely the betterment of the people. It's the primary reason I back the Minutemen but have a technical alliance with the BOS as they're more favorable allies when compared to the Railroad. In modern terms I'd compare them to a Private Military Company just on a way expanded scale.