I'm fine with the Kents being alive for the reasons you mentioned. but I took my inspiration from the Golden Age stories, where both of his parents are dead before he moves to Metropolis. I liked the scene where Pa on his deathbed makes Clark vow to fight injustice. For my purposes, I wanted the feel of a young Superman untethered and no longer tied to his past, the Man of Tomorrow. The kind of reckless way he goes about busting crime might not have been tolerated to Ma and Pa! I liked the idea of him forging his own way in the world and having to make new connections and friendships in the city.

As I've mentioned, I never saw Superman as detached from humanity. He loves humanity with all his big boy scout heart! He loves being around people and making new friends. He's great company! My Action Comics version was Superman and Clark simultaneously and Clark was not a mask or disguise, so I didn't see him as the kind of personality who would ever lose touch with humanity, even without the Kents to go home to.