Kaiju-again I'd say your criticisms reveal more about your point of view than Supes shortcomings. Overall your criticisms basicly indicate someone has to have some ulterior motive for saving someone or doing something good to have a connection with you
. (You did mention "IF" there were someone like that as though it's impossible.) There are these things called virtues or values. Some people do things simply because according to their belief system its the right thing to do.(there was an old obviously non current saying of "virtue is its own reward") If that bores you in a comic, great. Wimpy angst bores me. Supes doesn't have to save people on a train-he chooses to. And that is an appeal to me. Not to mention that whole being able to fly and bulletproof kinda thing.
And kidnicky- implying that there has to be some risk for something to be worthy or heroic is kinda hypocritical. Why read ANY superhero comic? Spidey saving someone w/ his web is hardly a risk-he has SUPERPOWERS. He can stop a thug like "you or I snapping our fingers".
What's the risk of Batman using some batcable thing to nab the 100lb Joker-HES RICH AND HAS PLENTY OF GADGETS-unlike you or me. Where's the risk w/Godzilla-HIS CELLS REGENERATE AND/OR SOME NUCLEAR CLOUD WILL REVIVE HIM. It's the choice to do so that makes a superhero. And every comic has some degree of it. Point is we all read stories with some degree of it.(again a gazillion Godzilla films prove this)
Personal choice(and again IMO personal worldview obviously) has more to do with which comics we gravititate to. They all have their shortcomings. If all their was to Supes were superpowers and NO drama, then he would hardly have the sheer volume of comics since 38, or the world recognition he has. And on your guys tastes I'd say various talented writers HAVE addressed the alleged shortcomings without changing Supes essence. I'd say check out the excellent Kingdom Come, or much of TV's Smallville.
Sorry to get this so far off topic(in a way), but since Supes resonates with some and clearly not others we won't see you opening day of Supeman Returns then, right?