I find it quite elegant, really. An annoyance removed in a way that produces new resources and can be spun as charity.
I don't think a single macabre tree can be spun as either of those things.
It's obviously just a cruel way of destroying someone, no one in their right mind would think it as charity, nor is it intended to be as such.
It is certainly very elegant.

Everyone will smile and nod, and talk about the mercy of Mother Om, but none of them will believe it were anything but cruel.

And Mother Om will smile and nod, while pretending she belives them when they say how charitable it were.