Do have to disagree on the sidekick/successor thing, although I can see where you're coming from. Had Batman only barely managed to survive, through luck or a last-minute hibbertyjigger, then I could see the final scenes indicating that he'd just been knocked out of the battle and was now coming back to reclaim what was his, with John by his side. But since the end makes it obvious that he orchestrated his own "death" ahead of time, the last shot in particular seems to make it just as obvious that he has no intention of ever coming back, and that he therefore hadn't let John in to help him but to be him. That also ties in strongly to Alfred's wish that Bruce had never come back in the first place. Now he's finally living out Alfred's fantasy. And Bruce wanting to leave Batman behind and find happiness has been a part of his character since at least TDK, so it makes it an even stronger thread that he's not going to be Batman again. So, honestly, I'd argue that the ending, exactly as it is, reinforces that idea... except for that stupid, fucking name drop!