the episode where barry got ralph killed is imo one of the better episodes because I am tired of the comments in shows where you can not kill a villain then you sink down to their level as if it is better for the villain to rot away in some prison.
Depends on the hero, imo.
I liked Superman vs The Elite because it showcased what he stood for. It doesn't matter if it's practical or not, he is the hero who always finds another way.
Someone like Ollie or Castle is a different story, because they were never inspirations in the first place. They're highly flawed characters, who make mistakes and probably CAN't find another way, because they're only human.
On the extreme end of that, you have Tommy Monaghan, and his time with the JLA.
Barry is, imo, one of those inspirational figures.