When I first met Gollum/Smeagol, he gave me the creeps and I did not like him.  However, after Frodo was nice and all and Gollum became more Smeagol, I pitied him and actually started to like him, in a round-about way (one reason for my anger at Sam in the books).  Of course, no one can deny that Sam had a good head on his shoulders deciding it was best not to trust Gollum/Smeagol.  I always hoped that Smeagol would change into Smeagol for good, and I even thought it possible at one point. 
 
As for whether Smeagol was bad in the beginning, I think not.  He was probably weak in moral character (contrary to Boromir) and that is why he succumbed so quickly.
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
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				I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. 
 
			 
		
		
		
		
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