It’s funny. As a boy I always sort of looked up to the Professor. As for the Ginger versus Mary Ann debate, as a teenager and for many years (several decades) thereafter, it was no contest: Mary Ann. Now, it’s Ginger hands down, to the point that I can’t believe the matter is even open to legitimate debate.
It was never Ginger. She was nothing but paint and props. Mary Ann was a real girl.