[user104658]

I'd say when it comes right down to it it's more about the individual that the relationship; some parents are amazing, others are awful... both biological and step. Some step parents will fill the role of an absentee biological parent without hesitation and form bonds as strong as any biological bond. Others will go down the "your child your problem" route and that can especially be a problem if they then go on to have more children (half-siblings for the older child) and treat them differently.


But I suppose in the scenario you're talking about - if biological dad has ****ed off to a new life and isn't interested in continuing to be an equal co-parent, and that's being compared to someone who has actively chosen to come into the family as a step parent, then in all likelihood the man who has chosen to be involved is going to be the better parent.

That said, plenty of couples split and have both parents continue to be great parents separately... it's not always the case that one parent disappears over the horizon to (almost) never be seen again.