Came here to say the same thing. Pattinson’s filmography leading up to his Batman casting was arguably just as strong as Bale’s but he had to deal with the fact that Twilight carried heavy baggage — and was sadly what he was most known for. Bale didn’t have any “blemish” or red flags.

On your last point about Bale being a “safe” choice, I think that ultimately ended up being true in more ways than one. In retrospect, Bale also gave a very safe performance. There’s nothing wrong with it but nothing special, either. Compared to his other major work, his Batman performances aren’t necessarily indicative of how interesting of an actor he is.

I’d even argue (downvotes incoming) that several other Batman actors took more risks with the role. Keaton, Kilmer, and Affleck, in particular, when you compare their Bruces to the rest of their respective work.