Though I didn't extend it to the point where the monster is ideal because Angela is so used to being abused. The Karpman Drama Cycle (first time I've heard about this) is a nice way to explain that Angela is trapped in this victim role, so she conjures the monster in order to forever be in this cycle.From your original post, Burning Man, I thought you referred the word ideal in the 2) manner, that's why I tried to argue against you because it doesn't make sense why Angela would act that way. Anyway I guess I misunderstood.
This is just another idea from me, though I don't personally believe in it, this could be another possible scenario to describe the use of the word ideal. The monster could be an ideal father because it allows Angela to see that someone finally comes to rescue her. I've always imagined that when Angela was abused, noone came to help her, her mother and brother either failed to recognize or ignore this domestic abuse. With this manifestation, Angela allows someone to rescue her: James. Her desire to be rescued now can be fulfilled and thus why the monster is an ideal father - an ideal father is the one she can be saved from. Ideal=Redemption
Even more we could say that Angela sees James as her mother (remember the stairs cut-scene?). We know that Angela is in Silent Hill looking for her mother. Or better yet, she comes to Silent Hill to find an aspect of her mother that has always been absent: care. Therefore abstract daddy is an ideal tool for her to fantasize maternal protection so she could no longer be deprived.
This scenario would also explain why James can see the monster since Angela projects her fantasy on James (as a motherly figure). Since she would need someone who is physically real and morally enough to save her, James is drawn to her world because he is the only one who can play out the role.
Burning Man - apart from the difference in translation of the word "ideal" and "abstract," do we have other differences in the dialogues exchanged by Angela and James throughout the whole game? For example, do the English translation of the cut-scenes accurate in the English version?