I get what you're saying, but you're misinterpreting my post. Despite all the unselfish actions Kirito performs during episode 2, at the end, after his speech that unifies the group, he declares quite openly that he's running off to go power level again, and we know from later episodes that he actually does just that. He's the same level or higher than the front line groups, yet can still spend several days away from there and still be as good as they are. During episode 3, he is shown power leveling most nights while his guild sleeps.
So they actually negated the pathetic excuse for character development Kirito might have gained. At the end of BOTH episodes 1 and 2, Kirito helps a few noobs, but then tells them that he's going to go run off and be better than them (well, he never told Klein). Any altruistic actions he accomplished are negated by the fact that he willfully refuses to help them where it actually matters, saving everyone. He power levels on his own, and forces them to figure out everything for themselves.
I suppose the only reasoning you can put behind this is either Y's right, and he's a complete sociopath, or Yuki's right, and he's got major Asperger's combined with a Hero Complex, so he goes out to fight weak people to save, but panics every time he's thrust into a social scenario.