I am Catholic and will remain so all my days and beyond. But I do not believe this story for an instant. I’ll assume it is not meant to be factual but even as a teaching story it is not believable.
The majority of Protestants do believe Mary was special in that they regard her as the mother of Christ who gave birth as a virgin. They don’t title her Mother of God or believe she remained a virgin but most don’t dismiss her as just another woman.
There are sects that believe she was no more than a vessel a sort of rent a womb but that belief is in the minority. Most realize her fiat had an important role in salvation history. They know that she was with Jesus at the foot of the cross and understand that her grief was very real.
Oh and I doubt most Protestants have any problem with the salutation of Elizabeth to Mary, after all it is in the Bible. What they object to is using it as a prayer and the addition in that prayer to Mary being called Mother of God. This is not proof that they are against Mary but that to them worship which includes prayers is reserved for God alone. They do not have distinctions such as Adoration, Hyperdulia and Dulia.
I see that no one has recognized your fair-minded remarks... Thank you for them, as your words are correct.
There are sects that believe she was no more than a vessel a sort of rent a womb but that belief is in the minority.
I don't think that is right - It might feel that way to you because of a visceral reaction to mariology in more fundamentalist branches, but from what I have experienced, the whole of Protestants/Evangelicals/Fundamentalists/Pentecostals are right in line with your previous words... Though by 'sect', perhaps you are wandering farther afield than what I would consider to be under the most generic sense of the 'Protestant' umbrella.
At any rate, thank you for your reasonable position.