How does Ponyboy's impression of the Socs change from the beginning of the story to the end?

Ponyboy hated and feared Socs in the beginning of the story. After meeting Cherry Valance, Pony learns that Socs also have their own pressures. It is not until Pony has a heart to heart talk with Randy, much later in the book, that he begins to see that Socs can have less than idyllic lives. He even sees his greaser lifestyle as having advantages over being a Soc with money.