I mostly agree with this.
So, I voted for Bale and I broke it down into three categories, similar to how I did Affleck vs. Keaton (in that one, I ended up voting for neither because they essentially tied).
Characterization: Bale - This one really was the deciding factor (as you will see in how I voted the other two). Fact is, at least Bale's Batman is a legitimate crimefighter with complex emotions. Affleck's Batman only fights crime if it will help him on his path to killing Superman which is seemingly the only thing he cares about. (In the film, we learn that Batman only captured that sex trafficker because he thought it'd get him info on the 'White Portuguese').
Affleck's Batman has his moments, and Bale's suffers some poor writing decisions of his own in the third film, but no film has ever had the perfect encapsulation as to what it means to be 'Batman' like the 'Dark Knight' did.
Look: Tie - I know everyone was in love with the Affleck Batsuit, and I like it, too, actually, but the TDK/TDKR Batsuit is my second favorite in Batfilm history. I LOVE how practical it looks while still being able to display the classic Bat-silhouette. (I disagree with this. Affleck looks better in the suit.)
This category is a tie, however, because Affleck really built up an impressive physique for this film and was able to carry himself like a really powerful fighter. I think the Batsuit actually overdid it in making him look a little too bulky compared to how his physique actually was, though I understand they did it to try and copy the 'Dark Knight Returns' aesthetic.
Acting: Tie - Both actors are great and did well. I'd actually lean slightly more towards Bale, since he had to show a much wider range than Affleck (and I loved his obnoxious cover version of Bruce Wayne), but he lost points for the Bat-voice that got worse as the films went on. (Affleck kind of cheated here by having an electronic voice changer, so he didn't even have to worry about it).
Don't forget this part from the same article: Affleck's Batman is essentially on the trail of a supervillain the whole movie, but mostly just lets him do whatever, doesn't question his motives or intentions, because the only thing he cares about is getting Kryptonite to fight Superman.
Not very Batman to me.
As for acting, I think Affleck performed Batman much better in general, but Bale was a MUCH better BRUCE WAYNE.
Bale's Bruce Wayne felt to me more like a sauve dolt, whereas Affleck's Bruce Wayne was more..Ben Affleck in a midwestern drawl.
Bale does a much better job of being ANGRY than Affleck.
But Batfleck has more of a CREEPY, hulking, persona.
I think the problem with Nolan's direction is that Batman's inherent creepiness was compromised for his sense of sympathy from the audience (less so in Begins than the sequels).
Whereas Burton and Snyder build up the creepiness, but also have him kill a bunch of people in the process.
^ We may never see anything resembling the Timmverse in live action, but we can hope.
The sinister creepiness is offset by a basically good guy trapped in a world that's almost one step ahead of him.
Conroy's Batman is shadowy Batman, moral Batman, smart Batman, and awkward Batman. In short, Batman
I think Affleck does a great job at being both sinister and awkward, but his Batman is fairly bullheaded and fond of guns (particularly in the nightmare sequence).
I think where Bale succeeds is that he comes across as a believable human being, not an indistructable hulk. But Nolan's vision for realism hurt the fight scenes.
Contrarywise, the fight scenes are almost all Snyder has going for his vision for the character.
It's as if you can choose between aesthetics and characterization, but you can't have both.
Maybe it will happen when Affleck directs himself
