People often forget that Naruto suffered a lot because of Kurama:
Being treated like dirt by the village, no parents, having his skin burned off, and trying to take Naruto over.
Its funny how people forget the negatives of being a Jinchuriki when they list the positives.
Edit: Also I notice that people convienently forget that most of Naruto's enemies are all extraordinarily powerful ninja.
Tell me how many 16 year old characters can fight Pain without help of some kind, or 5 other Tailed Beasts, or Obito, or Madara, or Kakazu (who Kakashi couldn't fight alone), or any of the people who Naruto has fought.
The 9 tails is just counter balance to the years of experience they have on him, even without it he is a very talented ninja.