I think one of the reasons I like Yondu so much is because his redemption was done so well and I think one of the reasons it works is because he’s a character that could be redeemed. He also admits he messed up. He tells Rocket that he was ‘greedy and stupid’ when it came to delivering Ego’s children to him. Now a cold hearted asshole would have just turned Peter over and taken the money. The Ravagers had already exiled him so what more could he lose? But instead, he keeps Peter. Yondu even admits to Peter that he wasn’t the best father too.
The reason his redemption works so damn well is that he doesn’t think he deserves it and is fine with losing his life to save Peter. That makes a good character. That makes a redemption worthwhile.