Thought this would be an actually good list. Like using doubles to represent him that couldn't possibly be him and having voice actors voice him that couldn't possibly be him or having written it without knowing who he was going to be from the start.
I think your number 1 should be 2. My number 1 is Red himself: killing Patrick's family created the person that chased him for years until the end. Red has a big ego, and that is a huge mistake.