I have the opposite opinion, but for the very same reason. :)
I've always seen Boromir as a glory hound, since he knew from the time he was a little kid that some day he'd be Steward. So he's been practicing identifying himself with Gondor. While this may be only a minor fault in peacetime, he almost brings Middle Earth to disaster with his temptation. He redeems himself, and gives his life to allow the mission to continue, but he was the one person the Ring zeroed in on after tempting everyone in one way or another.
I think Gimli gave up any thoughts of wielding the Ring after taking a whack at it with the other dwarf's axe. :)
Faramir, OTOH, has spent his entire life knowing that he'd be second fiddle. For some people, that would eat away at their soul. For Faramir, it taught him humility, and that his life was not identical to that of Gondor. Boromir went off to hobnob with the Council, and had his ego taken down a couple of pegs. Faramir was with the grunts, humping the boonies in bandit country.
Faramir's actions, which were rewritten by PJ because of the breaks between movies, are still consistent with the book. It's just that readers of the book soon get a better understanding of his inner workings, while watching the movie just leaves us with "what a jerk!"
I saw Faramir portrayed as a skilled infantry officer who was liked by his men because he kept his priorities straight. One, success of the mission. Two, welfare of the troops. Three, his own wants and desires.
From the POV of Frodo and Sam, this was the first professional soldier they had ever seen on the job. Faramir has bad guys to kill, and all of a sudden some semi-mythical creatures land in his lap. Initial questioning tells him they have something to hide, and this "something" somehow took out his big brother, no mean feat.
Being a prototype of Insp. Harry Callahan, Faramir firmly believes Dirty Harry's adage "a man has got to know his limitations". Prudence tells him he can't just take the hobbits by the ankles, shake them, and use whatever falls out of their pockets. He already had his hands full before this whatever-it-is dropped in on him. And he has to make a quick decision, several levels above his pay grade, as to what to do.
I think, as in the case of Aragorn's first appearance, Faramir comes off less than likeable. But we've already been warned, as have the hobbits, about first appearances, and where help might come from unexpectedly.
Sorry for the rambling. Faramir is first and foremost a good infantry officer, and just doesn't come off that well in a first encounter when you come across him at work.
Just as you read my opinion regarding Faramir and your jaw dropped, so does mine when I read your opinion about Boromir.
Yes, Boromir was raised to be Steward of Gondor. He was raised to be responsible for the welfare of the its citizens. A heavy duty. He hasn't been practicing identifying himself with Gondor, he does identify himself with Gondor. This is a good thing. This means that he takes his duty seriously.
I don't see the fault in this. I can tell you do because you have all of Middle Earth careening toward disaster because Boromir is the heir. Wow! Like I said, what a difference in two opinions.
Boromir comes to Rivendell after (I know I don't have the places right) battling the Nazgul in Ilithein (sorry). He has a dream, and he comes to find out the meaning. Nothing sinister there. In fact, if memory serves me, doesn't Faramir play a role in the dream. I want to say Faramir has the dream, but Boromir comes? The books are too long removed for me to remember.
He sees in the ring a great weapon. For what? For Boromir the glory hound? No, for Gondor. Like I said, he is responsible for the city, and the city is fading, no longer able to withstand the threat it finds itself under.
Everyone gets so severe with Boromir because he wants the ring... and everyone applauds Faramir because he is able to withstand the ring. Well, goody for Faramir... but, as you stated "the ring after tempting everyone in one way or another."
Tolkien has created this weapon... this one ring... this overwhelming thing of evil. It takes ahold of Ilsidur (sp), Smeagol, Bilbo, Frodo, and even Sam during his short possession of it. This ring is so awesome that Gandalf knows that if he has it, it will corrupt him.
This ring is consistent... and we know what it will do. We understand the implications of the ring, yet, Boromir, who does not throughout the book (even though he is warned... he doesn't believe it). Yes, he is tempted. Poor, human Boromir. Yes, he makes a play for it... Poor, human Boromir. But, he recovers himself. And for that, his is called a glory hound and his responsibility to Gondor is called into question! LOL!
Faramir, on the other hand, isn't tempted in the least. No, he wouldn't even pick up the ring if he saw it on the road. What a betrayal of the ring by Tolkien. If Faramir is the most like Tolkien, then what does that say about Tolkien's opinion of himself. That he is beyond reproach!
I think most of us would like to be Faramir... but in reality are more like Boromir.
Your other points abour Faramir are valid.
What I don't like about Faramir is he is too good to begin with, never changes throughout the course of the book, is one-dimensional and is constantly thrust upon us, and even his romance with bland Eowyn is one-dimensional and boring!
Ultimately, that is Faramir's crime. He bores me. For that crime, he can't recover.