I don't think anyone else in Road Cycling can relate, because we don't ride everywhere pretending to be in a Rad Race. Keeping rubber side down is not what we consider "high maintenance."
Accidents happen so the derailleur hanger is soft by design to absorb the impact that would otherwise damage the more expensive derailleur. It is also cheap to replace if damaged beyond repair compared to a RD. It should not bend if your shifters "move," whatever that means, unless it is in fact damaged beyond repair. I've bent hangers on a number of occasions but have never needed to replace one nor get a new RD, so I would say it does its job just as well as bumpers on cars do.