Yeah, I would agree to CounterInstinct there, too.
That's where I think I clash with Cassie's ideals so much and like Rachel's more. I mean, take book #48: The Return, it did Rachel c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e injustice on this topic.
I admire Rachel so much, because she has always been the one who would sacrifice her sanity for the security/protection of her friends and her family. In a bigger way than the other Animorphs I think. She would always be the one to say 'Let's do it', and never think twice about being the first to charge into battle, and she quite willingly accepted this role, not complaining about the Xena Warrior princess tag Marco gave her.
It was The Return, really, that set her on a path that made her lose it, I think.
Anyway, the morphing power has many implications AND responsibilities. Are you going to use it as a form of 'escapism' like Tobias, or for personal gain like the 'good' David, or as collectible item like Visser Three seemed to make use of his host's ability. I think Cassie would have been quite happy using the morphing just as a form to get the perspective of every animal on Earth.
I think in their situation, I would have embraced it as a way to realize 'the warrior within' like Rachel did.
I liked that scene where Marco rescued the old man. But also powerful were the scenes where Rachel does elephant to trash the circus. Or where Cassie/wolf advises the boy to keep quiet for his own safety.
PS: The bit where Rachel and Tobias saved the oatmeal-Controller guy was total bogus though, heheheh.