Why is everyone afraid of Luna?

[dan]

No: HPFGUIDX 84207

I don't mean, of course, in the books, though some of the ostracism 
she experiences could be attributed to fear of her, or what she 
represents, on the part of other characters, at bottom. No, I mean on 
this list.
Absent for a couple months, I did a search and found very, very few 
references to her at all. My own old posts showed up right away.
I have some speculations, naturally, as to why Lovegood isn't much 
speculated on, but I want to ask people on the list a couple things 
before I go too far in that direction.
Why was Luna introduced?
Why was she given the moment at the end of OOP with Potter?

dan