Avirah- The settlers Rav Kook was praising were building up Eretz Yisroel; and accomplishing Yishuv Eretz Yisroel. Granted, they weren’t being Michaven for the Mitzvah; but Rav Kook felt that it had great value anyway. This is not saying that things other than Torah make you holy; this is saying that doing the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisroel, and helping Klal Yisroel, makes you holy. Keep in mind also, that there is a Mesorah in Yiddeshkeit, especially with Chassidus, in trying to find Kedushah in every Jew. The Baal Shem Tov would spend time with the town thieves, trying to find the good in them. Also, Rav Kook felt, that praising what the Zionists were doing, and speaking about their Kedushsah, would help be Mekarev them. And in fact, he was somewhat successful. Many of the secular people, seeing that he appreciated what they were doing, became more religious. There were whole Kibbutzim which became Frum because of their encounters with Rav Kook. Granted, many of the Gedolim felt that it was better to avoid contact with these people, who, and by and large were anti-Torah. This was a Machlokes Lisheim Shamayim.
Keep in mind also, that there are statements of Chazal which can be interpeted as saying similar ideas as Rav Kook. The Gemara says “Anyone who walks 4 Amos in Eretz Yisroel is assured a portion in Olam Habah”. Is the Gemara saying that nationalism, rather than Torah makes a Jew? The Gemarah says that anyone living in Eretz Yisroel it’s Domeh that they have a G-D, while those living outside EY it’s Domeh that they don’t have a G-d.” Is this Kefirah also?
Even if Rav Kook was misguided about these ideas, though, and as the Gerrer Rebbe said “Ahavah Mikalkeles es Hasurah”, does this mean that we shouldn’t be Machshiv Rav Kook as one of the Gedolim, that we shouldn’t quote his Pesakim etc.? According to you, the Tzitz Eliezer, Rav Isser Zalman, Rav Dessler (and many others) were misguided by the euphoria of the times to look favorably upon the state and to call it “Aschalta Digeulah” in the case of the first 2. Or take the other unnamd Gadol (i know who you’re refferring to, but will leave him unnamed), who’s views were similar to Rav Kook. Yet, you are still Machshiv these Gedolim (although considering them a lower level, as you wrote before), so why can’t you say the same thing about Rav Kook. Perhaps, he was overly accepting. As you wrote from the Satmar Rebbe, this is not a Stirah to Gadlus Hatorah. In fact, as i mentioned on a different thread, this is exactly how Rav Avigdor Miller viewed Rav Kook. He viewed him as a Chashuv person, who Davka because of his Temimus, was misled by the secular Zionists. Rav Miller is very careful not to directly criticize Rav Kook though, writing “i have to be careful with his Kavod”. This is coming from Rav Avigdor Miller, who’s Shitah on the state of Israel was similar to Satmar. Point is, even if he was misguided, it was due to his Temimus and Ahavas Yisroel, and it doesn’t Passul him as a Gadol.
About Heter Mechirah, you are completely misunderstanding Rav Kook’s Shitah. Rav Kook did not want to Lichatchilah rely on the HM; he only held of it because it was such a Shas Hadchak and people were starving. In fact, there’s a letter, in which Rav Kook laments the fact that they have to rely on HM, and makes it clear that it’s just because a Shas Hadchak. According to Rabbi Efrati, Rav Kook would certainly not have held of it nowadays. I don’t find it so ironic, though, that he held of it, because it’s only Mafkia for one year, and also it enhances the Yishuv Haretz for the other years, so in the long run, it enhances Yishuv Eretz Yisroel. People like to make fun of the Heter Mechirah, but keep in mind that it was supported by Gedolim such as Rav Yitzchak Elchonon, Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank and Rav Ovadya. Rav Shlomo Zalman wrote a Sefer on the topic, and i beleive he is not Machria either way since there were great people on both sides.
There are 2 reasons why i do not like the Tropper Mashal. 1) While abuse is unequivocally terrible, i am not convinced that Rav Kook’s Shittos were Treif, as you write above. They were contreversial; many Gedolim disagreed with his Hashkafos, i view it more through the lenses of a Machlokes which perhaps Rav Kook was a Daas Yochid on, then something unequivocally Treif.
2) Even if Rav Kook was misguided, he was misguided due to his Ahavas Yisroel, and even if i don’t accept these statements i can still be Machshiv him as a Gadol and quote him, and i beleive the Gedolim would have been Machsiv him the same even if they knew these statements. Abuse, on the other hand is an act of Rishus to the highest degree, and the Gedolim would certainly not have respected Tropper had they known.