Oh, I can agree with the Joker issue, though I didn't notice the racism. If you mean the Iranians, I just thought they were playing to topical matters of the time. It didn't seem particularly racist, but I haven't read it in a while.
I haven't read the interviews either. I liked Jason throughout, actually. Headstrong, but that's not a bad point. Also, the determination to find his mother, it made you just like the kid.
I would have to disagree with the lack of change in Batman's character. Each writer brought something different, so it wasn't a clear cut evolution, but I think "A Lonely Place of Dying" was a great piece that emphasized *why* Robin must exist. It solidified the fact that Batman is not a loner, but part of a family, and that's something I think far too many writers today simply forget. I would agree that his relationship with the Joker hasn't undergone many overhauls, many writers have managed to capture more and more interesting facets. However, if there is ever a petition to retire the Joker for a good, oh, five years, I would totally sign up. As for 'endangering children', tricky argument. Is it irresponsible by real world standards? Hell yes. In the DCU? I would argue not. Even with villains getting "OMGKILLRAPE" they are being trained, by and large, by the best in the superheroing business. The DCU community is more of a family support unit than their Marvel counterparts. See Blue Beetle, Titans. Ignore YJ, the whole JLA trying to block them off never sat right with me. That said, having children and teenagers as superheroes should be treated with the gravity that the situation demands.