Re: In Dick's defense...
Too true. It seems like the Robin title was smoothly leading up to *Tim* taking on a new mantle. But instead they wanted to throw in conflict so that Tim would be angry at everyone when he left. So in order to get to those two things (Damian as Robin, Tim angry about it) characters act in bizarre ways. Especially in B&R Dick and Alfred seeming to agree that Damian, as Bruce's real son, must be groomed to be Batman. A mantle that neither of them has any reason to really think needs to be passed on that way at all.
This fawning over Damian's genetics imo makes Alfred and Dick--but especially Dick--makes it seem like both of them have secretly seen this lack in their own genetics as Bruce's family. They can't make Tim less important for not being real family without doing it to themselves. So at a time when the actual family members should be treated more carefully there's all this weird insensitivity--but insensitivity coming more out of editorial than out of their own grief.
Like, Dick is basically saying he wants to promote and not fire Tim. He's just irritatingly blase about explaining that to Tim. Why is he standing back *with Damian* when Tim stalks off?