As the only true survivor of the entire Skywalker saga, the noble robot R2D2 watched the rise and fall of Anakin Skywalker and then helped his son bring about the ultimate downfall of the Empire. He has a hero in more ways than a Wookie can count which makes his current condition so much more sad.

If this is how we treat our heroes when they age, what incentive does one have to be so selfless?