I know Robin's actual creation was as a POV character, but I'm just explaining why I find him to be an important part of the Batman mythos. I don't necessarily look at Batman's taking Robin out with him as putting him in Hamm's way; I see it as his way of guiding a troubled youth; he's giving **** a venue to take all of that anger bubbling up through his soul and channel it in a positive, constructive way. I think that, in some ways, Robin is akin to what people think of Batman in Nolan's Trilogy; it's almost like a radical form of therapy. With Jason Todd being the exception, look at all of Batman's other sidekicks; they've all grown up to be extremely well adjusted people, who, even when tragedy strikes, are able to utilize those circumstances in positive ways (like Babs). I think of Gotham as hell itself. Without anyone or anything to put your faith in, it will consume you and eat through your very soul.
With that in mind, I don't think Robin would be any better off had Bruce just left him under that circus tent. He would've exacted his vengeance one way or another, and it probably would've turned him into someone the Batman stalks through the night. I also think that one of the reasons the "Robin" identity is necessary is because of Batman. Bruce Wayne has devoted his life to something other than being Beuce Wayne, and, as such, he can't really connect as Bruce Wayne. That's one of the things I love about "Robin's Reckoning." He's saying things, but he's not really getting through to **** because Bruce isn't really someone you would find relatable. Batman, though, is the ultimate form of relatability for a kid who just experienced severe trauma because, in a lot of ways, Batman is just a kid who never grew up.
There's a sense of immaturity to what Batman does; this is a grown man, who is living out a promise he made as a child, which was...to become a masked avenger like the one in the movie he saw right before witnessing his parents' murder? Batman is awesome, no doubt, but a well adjusted adult he is not. A psychologically stable person would've most likely dealt with their trauma in therapy years prior and went on to using their power and influence to help those in need, rather than his his body and his mind. I guess what I'm trying to address here is your point about Batman being demented and reckless by saying that, more than anything, I believe it's immaturity at work. However, I think it's also testament to his ability to save these people, not only from becoming criminals, but by turning into him as well. Nightwing, Red Robin, Batgirl; I think that they could probably give up the life more easily than Bruce could, under the right circumstances.