But isn't that in the end a prayer to Mary? Even if you "ask her to pray" in your prayer to her?
No, it is not. My prayer to her, as with other saints, includes an acknowledgment of her elevated status. For instance, part of one of our prayers says, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.”
This may be a dumb analogy, but, if I were to meet someone to whom I should show a great deal of deference, say the queen of England, there are certain protocols that are observed in the way I address her. I certainly would not just walk up to her and say, “Hi! How ya’ doin’?” With Mary, because she is so special to our Blessed Lord and because she is the queen of heaven, we speak to her in ways that show deference, but we do not worship her as a co-redeemer or some such.
I hope this helps. And I realize that it is difficult to understand our Marian devotion if it is not part of your faith tradition.
God be with you.