I like Ginny, too. And really, if she's a Mary Sue, then so was I when I was a teenager - although I will concede that I did not always date 'the most popular' boys nor did they all pine for me. :) I think people just want to hate her, regardless of how she's written. They hated Cho, too, for dating Harry.

And I know exactly what you mean about wanting to date someone like our fathers. But I would never ever ever in a million years date someone like my mother - I'd rather join a nunnery. (And I'm Jewish, too!) *g*