As far as I am concerned (I'm French), Napoleon's positive contributions are his administrative reforms and his destruction of old European power structure, which paved the way for modern station-states. However, these are overshadowed, IMHO, by his going back to a monarchic system, his unfettered imperialism, the numerous war crimes of the regime, the organized looting, and of course the restoration of slavery.

That said, I agree with you that morally, the Coalition was little different.