The problem here is that you are assuming the amount of people that have seen this material prior to the films actually matters in the grand scheme, enough to cater to their perceptions to a tonal degree. Films aren't made to be catered to the fans, I say this for because dozens of entities exists in hollywood that start from a scratch and it's that group of people, the ones that aren't 'these kinds of fans' that sustain the industry. I see the benefits but it's not the make or break imo.
At the end of the day you ask yourself, does the studio stand to gain if they make the best possible Mad Max for it's fans, or the best possible Mad Max for the billions of people that both un initiated or even 'know the brand in passing'. I argue the latter and if that's true, who gives a damn about analyzing what this niche market of people perceives or best perceives, just give them the best possible thing ever.
Things are different for Superman, Batman or Spider-man, they are iconic characters as opposed to Mad Max or even other superheroes
There is very little space for different tones. People have a perception of these particular 3 heroes, would you want a Batman that jokes around? Or a Spider-man that doesn't quips and jokes but is a brooding dark character?
So Why would you prefer a Superman who is dull, plank face (sorry Cavill,its the truth) who broods around than the charismatic hero people want to see?
As far as these 3 are concerned, there are no people who only 'know the brand in passing', everybody has a fixed perception about the personality of these three
I agree to your post but only for characters who people knows very little about, Iron Man and Star Lord for example, there aren't as iconic as Superman/Batman/Spider-man, so Marvel could make them into whatever they liked and thought was best even though it turned out be different from their comic book versions, nobody cared. Its unknown character like these you can give the 'best possible'
They aren't supposed to make films to find the 'best possible' for these iconic heroes, the best possible is already out there with almost a century of experimenting in comic book stories, you have to
'adapt', not invent, not for iconic characters like these
Moreover, who's to say what they perceive is the best possible option? As I've said before, if all these fans have or had ever seen of Batman was Adam West, would that mean Nolan's(TDK) would be a poor endeaver at the outset and one not worth pursuing because it wasn't the 'best things these fans have yet seen'? In art the goal has to be the pursuit of the best possible option and exploring that. Seeking out the truth if you will, not simply giving some niche group what they are used to.
It will be then an adaption in name only, just like Fox F4 is turning out to be, just guys with same names and similar powers, rest everything is different
There is a different between adaption and inspiration
As for your question of best works, I would argue we haven't yet seen the actual best work until we have every piece of work based on the character ever accumulated.
Comic Books are for accumulation, movies are not. Movies are for adaption
I find it fickle to compare things like development and layers and supporting...in a 13 hour drama vs a 1.5 hour movie. Just thinking on it now, the mcu has 11 or so films among their entire run and even that isn't comparable to the time afforded to dd to tell it's story. Even if it was 11 focused mcu films about the same person. If you ask your same question in relation to DD vs TWS you would most likely come down on the side of DD given your questions. I'd say the same about Breaking Bad's character devel vs TDK or Game of Trones(with it's millions of characters) vs LOTR..Time. Just saying.
Just compare TDK trilogy to DD, both compare pretty well, I find DD a better adaption, most prefer TDK, its comparable because TDK is a well made trilogy, the difference of time isn't much either, 8 Hrs vs 13 Hrs.
Now DC/WB could have gone the same way with MOS and tried to make a decent trilogy, but they were too hungry for money so they showed Batman and God knows who else into "his sequel"
Pretty sure whatever people are claiming is he 'bias' isn't removed when it happens every non marvel studios project. It would re-enforce it in a way. But I can't speak for everyone on that end, I don't really walk with the bias group. I do know fans of a certain brand tend to look for all sorts of reasons to come down on fox/sony/universal and using the popular talking point may just be another weapon.
Because Marvel is the only one doing things the right way, for the most part
Fox has received plenty of love for their recent work on X-men and that's because they have done things right
The Bias only exists in imagination
In closing I would tell you to ask yourself at the end of the day, if someone told the studio to spend 300mill on the best possible timeless Power Ranger movie they could make that would speak to/challenge ...etc audiences all over the world of all different ages(even the seniors), would it come down to what the 'fans' have best perceived so far? Because I would argue even Joseph's Kahn's parody and how that was received challenged this conceit. I just find the former a flawed and limited way of approaching an artistic project.
If what you said is true, then why don't we start inventing new supporting characters and Villains for the CB movies? Why limit yourself to the ones from the comics? Its art afterall. Hell lets give Clark Kent a side-kick like Foggy Nelson, it would make him relatable
Like I said before, CBMs are adaptations, you have to stay true to it, what's the use if its not that? It would be their Superhero in name only
Like I said, Fox's Fantastic Four Reboot is the best example, of course it hasn't been released yet
It might be a decent movie, probably the best Fantastic Four on the big screen, but if the rumors are correct and from the looks of the trailer, its fantastic four in name only, its more of a squeal to 'Chronicle'