Crimeans care primarily about living under a government that will protect their security and cultural/ethnic rights which they felt were threatened by the Maidan overthrow of the government.

As for money, Russians have much higher wages, pensions, etc. than Ukriane even before the war. Pensions were much higher after reunification with Russia and there has been far more investment in infrastructure in Crimea in the past 8 years than there was for the 22 years under Ukrainian governance. Those are verifiable facts, whether one likes them or not. After Maidan and the forced economic break with Russia (which had previously been its largest trade partner and accepted products that EU would not allow in its market) and implementation of neoliberal policies required by the west, Ukraine was consistently the first or second poorest country in Europe - though they had been one of the richest and most developed republics of the Soviet Union).

Ukraine is projected to have its economy contract by at least 1/3. this year. They are bringing in virtually no revenue and are dependent upon foreign aid and printing money. If you think that the west is going to rescuscitate Ukraine economically, I think you are dreaming. I think it's likely that Washington will eventually wash its hands of Ukraine when it's convenient. I don't think Ukraine will benefit any time soon with its western gamble.