Either people are batshit or it was all for show. Ill play devil's advocate to you. If pence didn't play the judas role, the vote would have been thrown back to the state legislatures, thus giving them a chance to change the outcome and cause a back n forth shitstorm in congress, while potentially having pelosi as temporary president. If the certification happened once trumps term officially ended, he wouldnt have control over the military anymore.

Thats my take. Personally, I think Pence is just compromised and didnt have a choice.