Oh, definitely. Only protagonists can be good characters? o.O Yes, I'd love more female protagonists too, but if that's what they were getting at it's... poorly worded.

And while she's the team mom, that role means that sometimes she drives the other characters up the wall, as one's mom does.
Yes, definitely! Besides, while she does have some stereotypically "girly" traits, she'll be the first one to kick you if you suggest that's because she's a girl and not because it's, you know, her personality.