" But St. Paul certainly seems to have been a maverick, and preached in a manner more similar to Christ's than the other Apostles."
Maybe God raised up Paul for the ministry because Peter could not get the job done?
And your logic, clearly, points out that God raised up Paul because JESUS didn't get the job done, either? If I hear you correctly, you are measuring Paul's worth based on one of two Protestant yardsticks - number of books in the NT Bible, or number of supposed converts "credited" to Paul. This is how success is measured in your community? Warm bodies in the seats paying their tithes?
By these measurements, how does our Lord and Savior fare? You are measuring Peter and Paul by your own yardstick, rather than God's. Peter and Paul both "got the job done" that the Lord intended on them to have!
Remember, brother, God measures our worth based on how we respond to the job He gives us, not your human notions. Many are considered saintly who are janitors and maids. A saint is one who totally abandons his will to Christ. We will not be measured by how many widgets we make or how many converts we bring into the church - but how we respond to the graces (many or few) that God happens to give us.
Regards