I think the whole purpose of Nolan's bat films is to put an actual human in the cape and cowl and what that does to a real person. Rises was about a Batman who lost everything he was trying to protect by being Batman and, therefore, losing his way.
Do you really think that's a more profound alternative though?
Personally, one of the most attractive features about the character to me is the egoism involved; an individual who dresses up and fights crime because he has a selfish, base, and esoteric urge to do so rather than someone who feels they have an obligation to a greater good--or just a fascination with vigilantism for that matter.
