Hmm we're well into the realms of taking the thing entirely too seriously here.
At the end of the day as you point out it's a show for kids. It's not really designed for DS9 or Shakespearian levels of intricate characterisation or permanent character development (if there was too much character development they'd all grow up too much and there wouldn't be any more lessons to teach the kids), and so as events happen that are timed in various ways and interpreted by us in different ways, ponies will shift up and down in our personal estimations from one month to the next.
I'm not so bothered as to go into deep analysis. You can relax, I still love Dashie, I think perhaps I was a bit strong worded with a general not-too-serious and not-overly-ingrained impression of her recent lesson episodes and offended your favourite a little
I certainly don't think she's bad and she's still holding a podium position. The shifting around in personal favourites is a lot more influenced by the positive Pinkie episodes and personal drifting towards "Fluttershy-ness" than anything negative on RD's part, regardless of whether those negatives were from unintended interpretations. I'll just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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Edit despite long period because of silly double posting rule ;P
After all this time I finally decided to buy some actual pony merch! 3 crystal pony blind bags (one of them Rarity) and I gave Dashie some love buy getting her as a brushable :3
(Her brushable mane is a pain actually, but it gives me something cute to do!)
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