Yes, to protect her. Ever hear of groupies?
In other words, Jesus is saying that she's not blessed because, through some accident of history, she happened to be the one who was to give birth to the Messiah; she's blessed because she heard the word of God through the angel Gabriel, and accepted it, and took it to heart, and lived her life accordingly.
Headache, maybe you can ask your friend what would've happened to God's plan of salvation if Mary had said "no" to the angel Gabriel instead of "yes". That's why we catholics call Mary "the new Eve". Eve said "no" to the will of God. Mary said "yes".
I'm unaware of this "fact" from either Scripture or Tradition. When and where exactly did Jesus say His mother was "nothing special"?
No.
The Angel Gabriel called her "Blessed" because she heard the word of God and kept it (having the Word of God in her womb: that's some keeping!)
And this is not merely a biological thing, in the sense of a relationship between a "womb" and a "product of conception" or a mammary gland and an alimentary canal; it's a relationship between a whole person and a whole person, as Jesus said:
Luke 8:21
But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
Luke 11:28
But He said, [to the woman who made it sound like it was only, and reductively, physical]"On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."
Mary is not just an incubator. She is a person with an intimate and love-filled physical and spiritual, personal connection to the Lord Jesus. She's His Mother.
I am certain that He honors her, and is pleased when we do, too.
Or don't you think Jesus kept the Commandments, including "Honor thy father and thy mother"!
In comparison to G_d, no one is special.