More Flaws, More Popular?

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 34038

I hope the answer to this question won't turn out to be really dumb 
and obvious, but here it is anyway.

We've been discussing adult characters and their flaws and the 
mistakes they've made.  Several of the most beloved characters have 
made hideous errors in judgment or tactics.  Hagrid's errors and 
flaws are numerous, as we recently discussed.  Sirius erred in 
hatching that secretkeeper plan and in setting Snape up to be killed 
by a werewolf.  Snape erred in becoming a DE and being closed-minded 
in the Shrieking Shack.  Lupin (who has the shortest rap sheet) erred 
in not telling Dumbledore that Sirius was an animagus with knowledge 
of a secret passage into the castle.  

In fact, each of these four characters has committed errors serious 
enough that someone could have been killed or very badly injured.
Nevertheless, I suspect that if you took a poll, one of those four 
characters (Lupin, Snape, Black and Hagrid) would be the favorite 
adult character of a great percentage of members of this list.

There are, however, characters who haven't made any big mistakes that 
we know of.  One is McGonagall; another is Dumbledore.  Neither of 
these characters is among my favorites.  They have been in all four 
books, and they have had a lot of interaction with Harry.  So why is 
it that wise Dumbledore and competent McGonagall seem to stir less 
passion for me and possibly for others?

Cindy