"Inevitable" means "same technological progress would be achieved anyway, even if these people have made less damaging choices".

So yes, they are 100% responsible for damage they caused and did not had to happen. And no, "I had no choice, because it was the only way to become billionaire" is not an excuse.

They were NOT "instrument". No one manipulated them. No one forced them. Nothing forced them. They themselves wanted to and did not cared