Two things can be true at the same time:

1) The US-based Western financial world sanctioned the shit out of Venezuela, the US backed a coup against him (successful for a week) and the US pressured everyone they could to do no business with Venezuela tanking the Venezuelan economy; and

2) Chavez got used to being "the man" and let and/or helped develop a cult of personality around himself.

There is no doubt that Venezuelans are suffering economically because the most powerful nation on the planet wants to change their government.

The fact that you do not address the US efforts to overthrow Chavez (and now Maduro) AT ALL in your post makes me discount your criticisms of Chavez greatly. That is a shame, as I usually find insights from people who have lived in a foreign country very helpful in understanding the situation in that country.