I'm not going to say anything praising Byrd. He did plenty during his career to piss me off, and I haven't forgotten it, but I like your post. Over the years, too many years, I've seen many people, some from my own family, change how they feel about race relations, social policy, equal rights for all... women, gays, you name it. People can and do transform their beliefs and "see the light." Anyone who doesn't believe that simply isn't a good observer of people and how they can evolve. Sure, far too many don't change their ignorance, and even become worse, but many do. I think Byrd, by the time he was closing in on the end of his career and his life, was one of those.
Sure - but it was popular to be a bigot in WV long after he renounced his views, as evidenced by the popularity of nearby Helms and Thurmond (or the sheer number of people who, according to exit polls, specifically voted against Obama due to race). This issue, especially in the South and especially with older people, is very complex. I'm sure many - and maybe Byrd - changed their views as political opportunism. But plenty others also changed their views as they grew up and experienced a different and changing world - just as many have changed their views on gay-bashing over the course of our lifetimes. I don't think we have enough evidence either way to judge whether Byrd actually changed or not, but that doesn't seem like a good reason to assume the worst - especially given that he went beyond simply changing/toning down his views and actually became an advocate for the opposite view.