Re: In Dick's defense... 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.
But you see, genes are magic and trump everything else! It's just like divine right -- no matter how awful a king a son might be, it's simply their rightful place and the rest of you should just shut up about it.
Really, it's depressing seeing Morrison retreat to this sort of pseudo-feudalism and genetic determinism, especially as a Brit. I guess most people do turn into conservatives when they get old.