For all the talk of Superman being the ideal for mankind to strive for, etc etc, I personally feel that Batman is the true ideal.
Yeah, he doesn't wear bright, symbolic colors or always say "Please", "Thank you", and "Ma'am". He can get a bit moody at times, and he gets angry and depressed. He's not the "Boy Scout".
But he's a human being. That is something Superman, no matter how he tries, can never be. He can never feel the pain, danger, and helplessness we feel. He's just not human. How can he be the ideal to strive for when there is no way we can ever be like him?
Batman, with all his flaws, is the paradigm of humanity, to me. No, no one would ever devote their life to fighting crime, and he isn't realistic in the slightest sense of the word. But pushing your personal boundaries, driving yourself to be the best possible man you can be, to take up a noble cause and devote all your time, resources, and life at whatever cost, even death...to me that is more inspiring and heroic than an indestructible baby falling from the heavens.
Flame me all you like, but "bat-god" is still more interesting than Superman, to me.