What if Batman had no bat ears? Would Gotham still fear him?

A dude that sneaks around in a black suit silently like a ninja, beats hordes of people senseless and drives around in something akin to a tank. I would say yes. The ears would be the least terrifying thing about him.

Isn't that The Midnighter from The Authority?

We have three ninjas and a gimp. Bale, Affleck, and Keaton aren't the gimp.