I gather PUA is especially for men who feel they ought to be apologizing all the time.

Yes, exactly. This is probably the bit that causes the most problems -- women think PUA advocates that all the jerky guys who already bother them become even jerkier, when it's actually about getting nice guys to stop being apologetic for even existing within the perceptual range of a female.

I'm willing to bet that PUA generally can't be framed as trauma recovery because you believe (perhaps rightly) that a man can't do well socially while admitting to that sort of damage.

Right - men are shamed for not being able to deal with it, in the same way that you were shamed for being angry.

That being said, PUA is framed as recovery, to a certain extent, but with a more positive spin -- "it's not about getting women, it's about becoming better men" is a common saying among people who've spent a nontrivial amount of time interacting with their PUA peers, or who're involved in doing training.

It's very tempting for me to see a creepy guy as really creepy all the way down, so that what seems like more attractive behavior is just a ploy.

If you look at what PUA training products are for sale in the marketplace, and how they're priced, you'll notice that the difference between cheap training and expensive training is mostly about the difference between cheap tricks, and becoming a more confident, expressive, person. (On the in-between pricing levels, there's training about style, logistics, approaches, etc.)

This isn't accidental -- it reflects the normal path of guys' interest. The further along someone gets in their education, the more interested they are in changing who they are, rather than in just learning some magical pickup lines, or ways to dress and stand so as not to look creepy.

If you think that PUAs are creepy guys who just want to manipulate women and get laid, consider the fact that they're willing to pay $200 just to learn to appreciate women better!

Heck, just read the first bullet point from that sales page:

How most guys are strangers to their own emotions, and therefore can’t relate to a woman’s emotions. Discover how to open up to your OWN emotions, and watch your connections with women deepen, immediately.

Does that sound like something that would even remotely appeal to the stereotype you have in mind of what a "PUA" is?

Sure, I'm cherrypicking an example -- AMP are the only people I know of who position their marketing that clearly. Most of the sales literature for similar training is shrouded in more mystery, or in language that makes things sound a lot more like you're going to become this awesome stud, until you look at the actual program synopsis or read reviews

But AMP is far from the only company training "inner", "natural", and "direct" game styles (all of which emphasize personal transformation, and open/honest communication). And some of those other companies are making millions. Annually.

Which means it's not really the narrow niche you think it is. Availability bias and controversy creates distorted views.