Ron as prefect

[astratrf]

No: HPFGUIDX 91653

Hello there.  I was rereading OotP, and I was left with a nagging 
question.  Maybe some of you more alert people out there can 
enlighten me.

Isn't prefect a position of honor, given to excellent students, who 
can then boast throughout their life, and put on their resume, "I 
was a prefect"?

How, then, does Ron deserve the position?  I know he has 
helped "save the day" with Harry more than once, but he hardly 
seems to be a really good student--more like one who manages 
to scrape by with adequate grades.  Or are Gryffindors 
undeniably brave but lacking enough in smarts (except 
Hermione, of course!  Why ISN'T she a Ravenclaw?) that Ron 
represents the top of the heap?  Even with the understanding 
that DD didn't want Harry to have the extra responsibility, I can't 
figure this out.

-Astra (cautiously dipping yet another toe into this forum)