Neither of us knows the facts, unless you have access to the right execs and can ask maybe. Yours is just as much an assumption as mine.
I didn't say in a row, I said 'by now'. Mind you, I wasn't really thinking that well, since Marvel Studios hasn't been around that long, I was more considering there have been 5 Spidey films since Marvel sold the rights. Still, if Marvel Studios had had the rights, we probably wouldn't have had as many Iron Man films as we have know.
I never said Batman could beat Marvel (though really, what is with the Marvel vs DC beat down thing coming from? Neither are ever going to 'beat' the other, both will continue to exist, make movies, and profit for many decades to come). Only that you can't heap praise on Marvel for doing lesser well known character when all they had were the lesser known characters, or blame DC for continuing to make movies of characters that always sell and profit. You may not like the character, or the overexposure, or whatever, but DC/WB are a business, businesses only concern is making profit, and Batman is extremely profitable for them.
Also, I never said 'simple strategy' just that the why things are done is simple, money.