User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 569 (You've been hit by / You've been struck by / Senbonzakura~)/@comment-24113610-20140223232155/@comment-1489595-20140224040437

If only rank mattered then only Captains would have bankai since it is so closely associated with shinigami captains. This obviously isn't the case.

I was surprised to see that Rukia had gained Bankai since her character arc really didn't need it and I wouldn't of cared if she never achieved it. That said I don't think Rukia is a substandard choice for achieving bankai. Take a look at Ikkaku. A terrific fighter but disadvantaged as a seated officer in a lot of ways. He's barely capable of any sort of serious reiatsu manipulation yet he still earned a bankai. He isn't even a lieutenant. Rukia is arguably the more well rounded candidate since she is skilled at the things lieutenants are supposed to be skilled in. And unlike Ikkaku Rukia has had the advantage of specialized training that can only enhance her abilities. Her achieving bankai makes sense.