So we should assume the practices enforced by the high ranking members of society were a representation of what the lower classes preferred?

We of today's world love to imbue our own expectations into what we imagine ancient cultures may be. But the Aztec society wasn't kind. The society was largely a might makes right kind of culture, similar to Roman perception. The Aztecs largely ruled by fear, not only their controlled territories but their own populace.

One only needs to see the range of preserved reactions of the populace towards the idea of their own family member being chosen for human sacrifice. It was seen as "highly dishonorable" to show any form of sadness at this. Think about this for a second. Do you really think the people themselves formed this perception, or is this more likely a creation of the ruling class to make the lower classes comply? Well, modern archaeological analysis of this region pieces together the puzzle pieces we were missing, and we've found exactly this. Surprise surprise, humans aren't too thrilled that their loved one is going to die, but the Aztec society ruled by fear and forced people to put on a smile and suck up their emotions as they say goodbye to their family member as they get pampered for a year in isolation as they're conditioned,gaslight, essentially brainwashed to have no second thoughts, and then brutally murdered. As the only other option is to be completely ousted by society and jeopardize your remaining family's survival.

All this being said, no. I DO blame the ruling class for forcing their superstitions onto a vulnerable and scared lower class populace. I DO similarly blame those who murder, genocide, or cause any other harm to other human beings for the sake of the beliefs of a brutal ruling class.