I think it was less about what August wanted, and more about..

the blue fairy's magic which basically turns a wooden boy into a real "boy", with little variable. It was either be dead or a be a boy.

I don't think the writer's intended or wanted a redemptive arc for August, so much as a cautionary tale. I may be wrong, of course.

It is sad that he was never able to make things right with Emma or make it up to Emma. But oh well.