I sort of feel like the only reason they added the Batgirl stuff is so it hits you harder when the Joker shoots her. The thing is, the story isn't about the Joker assaulting Batgirl to get at Batman. The story is about the Joker assaulting Barbara to get at Jim (in order to get at Batman). If they'd replaced the disgusting Batman/Batgirl romance with some father/daughter stuff with Jim and Babs then maybe they could have added something to the story that wasn't completely pointless.