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Certainly wouldn't give ole Barney a binding and loosing bullet...

I really don't know how to construe your meaning here D-fendr. But some thoughts come to mind.

(1) If in fact Peter is a "Barney," then certainly God would not invest in him the power of "loosing and binding."

(2) Yet evidently we have Jesus' own statements to the effect that Peter is invested with the power to "loose and bind."

(3) If Jesus has placed this power in the hands of an "objectively" incompetent man, then either one of two things must be true:

(a) Not only has Jesus meant to deceive us (notwithstanding this would constitute an utter contradition of His Own True Nature as Logos), but this deception is excusable because there is some greater divine purpose to be served by means of resort to deception. This I cannot accept. I do not believe that Christ ever contradicts Himself.
(b) Jesus chose Peter for qualities important to Him, which may be undetectable by us. In which case, put your faith in Christ's choice. I do not find this understanding at all strange to my ear.

So where do we go from here I wonder?

It's wonderful to hear from you, D-fendr!

Jesus placed the authority of the Keys in St. Peter because St. Peter had unwavering faith in Christ revealed by the Father and at the same time had human imperfections. It is significant that each time Peter is elevated or singled out by Christ, Peter's weakness is also brought to mind. In the keys episode St. Peter, unwittingly following Satan, tempts Christ with temporal power. Peter's betrayal is bracketed by Christ's prayer that he remain strong and convert his brethren, and by the charge to feed the sheep.

This prefigures the failings of the human leaders of the Church; it is important for Christ to teach us that His Church is a divine institution infallibly lead by fallible men.

Great to hear from you too, BB.

I think everyone would agree that Our Lord gave this authority to the Apostles - Peter. The authority to forgive sins was a major statement - for Jesus Christ and therefore his apostles.

I think we have to assume Our Lord knew what he was doing.

On Peter as Barney: We see lots of places where the apostles don't understand, misread, stumble, are fearful; I think all of them at some time or other. (Maybe Mary Magdelene is the example of a disciple who understood and knew instantly.)

So, I would conclude that Christ saw Peter as he would become not as he used to be. Plus He would have help. :)

...evidently we have Jesus' own statements to the effect that Peter is invested with the power to "loose and bind."

Jesus Himself seems to set great store by the dude. FWIW, I don't think He would have done that, in the case of "a spiritual doofus," a "Barney Fife...."

We are all of us Barney Fifes, spiritual doofuses...just like Peter...and every single one of us has the power to loose and to bind upon the earth, according to the Word and Spirit, the Power of God in and through Christ Jesus our Lord and Head, to us via the Holy Spirit, amen!

But we have this treasure in jars of clay
to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us.
~2 Corinthians 4:7
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
~1 Corinthians 1:25-29
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.
~Galatians 2:11