Fairy tail has Lucy's POV for most part. I feel like there are too many main characters cause all of them have a nice spot light around them. I think comparing her with Sakura is so wrong, it's as if people haven't actually read both mangas.
Sakura before : I am super smart with no potential and I will beg the boys to do everything.
Sakura now: I am super strong, lost a bit of the brains and will fail to do anything even if I try so that the boys can do everything... AGAIN.
Lucy since forever: I will always try my hardest, I will be inspired to overcome my limits by those stronger around me and I will not sit around and cry when I can get stronger.
Lucy had been through hell, lost both parents and has always managed to have realistic actions. The main character doesn't need to be the super idol that shines all the time. Her battles for me the best along with Erza's in all of fairy tail. Sorry, but even comparing her to Sakura seems irrational. Compare her to Nami or Usopp, but god, Sakura? Also at a point she was the strongest mage of fairy tail when they entered Edolas

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And no, defo not fodder. I like the fact that her magic ends up being unique and yet she still refuses to take the last 2 keys cause she understands Yukino is important too. *cough* eat lightening fire/etherion/godfire/etc *cough*