I'm not actually sure if that's better or not regarding her character to be honest...but certainly an interesting perspective that has merit that I had not thought of myself.
Besides, it's very convenient when you're a "good genius" to everyone. Good, of course, to the Elite (sisters) and staff...
Need an essence to increase skin sensitivity and pain levels? - V will give it to you.
Need an enhancer of your sexual pleasure? - done!
Need technology to give your slaves modified long tongues for pussy licking? - Here you go.
Need specialty sex toys? - no problem!
In the end it turns out that everyone needs V and almost no one is hostile to her, everyone treats her with awe and respect, knowing that in case of emergency their sorceress will come up with anything for them...Besides, with this approach she becomes for all sadists, starting from the staff and ending with the Elite much more understandable , "her", and simply irreplaceable.
After all, it is useless to tell children about scientific developments, the essence of which will be understood only by another genius - Callista (or mb Cole), but to give them something they can enjoy here and now - a great way to remain an unquestionable authority.
And while great-aged children are enthusiastically picking in their sadistic sandbox, with pleasure using miracle technologies and magic toys invented for them by V, she herself can concentrate on really important things on a planetary/continental scale.