Yeah, if you look at how DC has let Bruce handle any serious disagreements with his family and friends over the last 10+ years you kinda learn to expect him to hit his 13 year old son instead of trying to be a good mentor and finding an actual solution to their problems.
I don't see how hitting Damian would convince him that Bruce's methods are the right way to go (especially since Bruce's methods are also questionable at best), Jason certainly wasn't convinced after his fight with Bruce, but DC always finds a way to spin things in Batman's favour.
A new identity isn't enough to keep Damian safe from the bat-office using him as cannon fodder. Just look at Nightwing. Damian has it even harder when it comes to independence because he is tied to Bruce by blood. That connection is hard to cut. I liked their relationship in Batman and Robin and want more stories with them. I hope for the sake of both their characters (and for the sake of my patience with DC comics) that they don't completely ruin Bruce as a father and Damian's arc to becoming a better person with the Annual, but I'm trying not to be too optimistic.