I like to think Syndrome was ironically a super, being gifted with superior intelligence given his ability to create functioning rocket boots at a young age, and then the first sentient AI as a young adult.

I feel like the short-term and long-term stupidity kind of makes sense, from a narrative perspective. He’s a snotty kid trapped in a big-boy body and was never going to succeed. But just because he can’t succeed doesn’t mean he can’t be dangerous in the meantime.

Syndrome is basically like any other villain: The character traits that got him even close to winning are also the same that stopped him from doing so.

We need a ''Heroes too dumb to actually win'' series.

What's even crazier is that main plot of The Incredibles takes place in the 60's

So ,yeah, Syndrome coming out with stuff like functional rocket boots, zero-point energy and a highly-sophisticated learning AI would realiatically put him on the level of Tesla and probably beyond

But in all fairness, that IS the point of his character. He could have done so much good, but instead decided to stew over a 15 year old grudge and the fantasy of being a superhero

The first point is Media Zealot essentially saying, "You can rewrite DNA on the fly and you're using it to turn people into dinosaurs? But with tech like that, you could cure cancer!" with Syndrome replying, "But I don't want to cure cancer. I want to turn people into dinosaurs."

It's surprising he managed to stuff it all up so badly. Initially he was off to a great start. Secret Island Base, prototype combat robot that he was smart enough to get his main enemies to test before the public reveal thus making it better and reducing the number of Supers who could stop him. He got lost somewhere between underpants and profit though. Why wasn't his last step, take over the world?

Syndrome: "Aigh, I'm going to give this giant terminator the skill to improvise, adapt and overcome"
Omnidroid: "I've learned you control me with a remote, time to zap it away"
Syndrome: suprised pikachu face

As much as everyone makes fun of Syndrome's short-sightedness, it is a brilliant callback to the beginning of the film, when Buddy's genius is shown to be offset by his propensity to completely overlook obvious flaws, such as his inability to steer himself with his rocket shoes.

Instead of programming the robot to obey him unquestionably and make it unable to harm him specifically, he limited himself to an external remote that was easily destroyed. Yeah, it's a bonehead move, but very much on brand for Buddy/Syndrome. He's brilliant when it comes to laying plans and technical stuff, but utterly fails at common sense and social aptitude.

"He found rejected riddler costume in Gotham dumpster"

What an epic line

He probably could have taken over the world politically and diplomatically if he wanted to.

I think Syndrome saw himself as Zeus and was referring to Mr. Incredible as Kronos, but ironically ended up switching roles. It's a really well-written allusion.

Yeah, of all the things wrong with Syndrome's plan, relying on a robot designed to kill people with superpowers and programmed with a learning A.I. was probably up there with pulling the pin on a grenade and throwing the pin.

One thing I always thought was funny too was Mirage, the white haired assistant. We are kind of led to believe she redeemed herself for helping in the end after Syndrome left her to die. Yet she was perhaps the second most involved person in the scheme. Recruiting hero's to watch them die to the Robot over and over again. Pretty big butcher bill to just excuse because she pushed a button.

Especially since she was given nearly no back story to explain at all why she was so loyal and willing to help.

I’ve heard some people say Mr Incredible was in the wrong for how he treated Buddy, but I don’t think that at all. Mr Incredible tried to tell him gently to leave him alone, but Buddy didn’t listen, and then he RUINED THE MISSION AND ENDANGERED COUNTLESS PEOPLE.  You can’t blame Mr Increíble for being harsh after that. Buddy wasn’t listening to anything Mr Incredible was telling him, and it’s not his fault that Buddy turned out to be even more deranged than he thought.

Frozon is the real stupid one for not keeping his super suit on lock

I’ve heard that Syndrome was meant to represent obsessive toxic fans. He gets angry when the thing he loves doesn’t live up to his specific and unattainable expectations, then sets out on a petty ego trip to destroy it.

Syndrome (From the Greek word meaning "run together.") Can also mean a bunch of problems or symptoms all together culminating into conditions or abnormalities. Clueing the audience in that there is a lot wrong with him and he needs therapy.  This guy is too unstable to be rational.

Syndrome is one of the greatest supervillains in fiction and one of best villains in film. His psychotic desire to destroy Mr. Incredible is matched only by his immaturity through squandering his massive fortune on a childish revenge scheme. He’s a mass murderer of supers because he was scolded rightfully by his idol.

Amazing this is in a Disney family movie.