Board Thread:New on Bleach Wiki/@comment-957629-20151213135550/@comment-957629-20151214020712

Pretty sure Byakuya already acknowledges that Ichigo can do what he sometimes can't. He doesn't view him as weak and hasn't since Ichigo broke his blade at the end of their battle. The entire Gotei 13 recognizes Ichigo and his strength, they even granted him powers again because of this with a little of their Reiatsu.

The true character development is when Byakuya finally evolves in his treatment of Rukia. She is literally all he has left in terms of a personal life and he protected her continuously. His wife was a delicate flower and she asked him to find and protect her so he did. The only time he stopped was when it came into conflict with the vow he made at his parents graveside. Since meeting Hisana he had been in constant conflict with the laws of his clan for idealistic feelings which he decided to finally act against in the SS arc. We see his reflection of Ichigo's motivations and actions, doing everything to protect Rukia, which he should have been doing and he found his way again, he saved Rukia despite grievous injury.

Gradually we see his growing respect for her power. He lets her go to Hueco Mundo, a great danger despite holding her back from dangerous missions for decades. He shows up to save her of course, but allows her to carry on fighting after recovering. Despite still fearing the loss of her, and knowing her inexperience with Bankai, he allows her to defeat Nodt with a nudge in the right direction.

Rukia is and always has been Byakuya's crutch, asking a Human for help despite acknowledging Ichigo's importance and strength in the past, wasn't a momentous occasion. It's when he accepts that Rukia isn't the weakened person that Hisana was and that he could protect her while helping her to sow the seeds of her strength. She was close to death in Hueco Mundo and he still behaved like himself, his calm, externally rational self despite the internal turmoil we know he already faces.