Yeah. On the one hand, buying a vacation home (alternate scenario: ...renting? hotels? staying with family?). On the other hand, educational opportunities for their niece who has already been failed by the available public school (alternate scenario: she goes back to being failed by that school? they find another benefactor? they get a lot of scholarships?). The downside on one of those is a lot bigger than the other one, and Lacy's not getting a say in this matter, and it's her life and her future that are being played with.

"Sorry, you have to leave the school you love, where you're learning a love and making friends, and go back to a school that will fail you and not teach you anything for years, because your aunt and uncle want better vacays." No. The LW thinks they're punishing the father, but the father isn't the one who will have to live the consequences of this decision every day.