That's Ned's problem, he was too 'proper' and inflexible, everything had to be done right with him even when it made more sense to be underhanded for the greater good.

That's the whole point of his character, he could have won it all and avoided all the suffering that happens in the books after his death if he'd just been willing to bend just a little bit.

I think that's what George was getting at with him, he's the phrase 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions' personified.