I don't have enough details on how this instamine went because I was not attached to this coin at that moment. So it wouldn't be fair for me to call it a blatant scam.
But I wonder what stopped him from relaunching the coin fairly to make things right - and this was a very big reason to relaunch.

So i'm voting for 3rd option:

It was an accident, but it worked out well for him. No regrets.