Yeah, to me he and Superman are that critical. I could see giving up completely if they weren't up to par. I would just feel there was something missing and a void where they should have been.
Exactly. No 2 characters are more associated with their company. Take Bats and Supes away from DC and what do they have? Take them out of most DC collections and what do you have? Those 2 are so integral to the DCU. How do most peeps even begin to have a DC collection without them?
Marvel, is a little different for me. Spidey is arguably their most popular character. Yet, I don't need him in an Avengers, FF, or X-MEN line-up. I would be able to collect Marvel statues without him. The same thing applies to the Hulk. While I love both Spidey and the Hulk, I don't NEED them to complete any essential Marvel line-up. Don't get me wrong, I would still be looking to add both those characters because I like them. However, I would be adding Marvel pieces left and right even if I had to wait on them to be released. That really isn't the case for me with DC. JLA, the Trinity, and Bat's entire rogues gallery hinge upon the Batman PF looking great for me.
If Supes turned out bad, I could have dealt with that. It would mean no JLA or Trinity line-up. However, SSC will still make a boat load of money off me if Bats looks great because then I'm down for the Gotham rogues gallery. In my DC collection, everything begins and ends with Batman.