I'm not insulting you but your counter example isn't a great counterpoint. Passive characters have their place, but Gohan was the lead. Kalifa is not. It's not the same thing.Jeez, I just gave one example of a character that is massively passive, but still has agency when the occasion calls for it. I already gave you other examples for the lead.
We've been down that road before and even if you were right, Gohan plays a VITAL role. I know what you'll say, so did Vegeta, but Gohan is the one that defeats Cell. He's the strongest and the key to the victory. Why you are splitting hairs over this, I don't know. He's sure as hell more important to that arc than Kalifa is. If Gohan is just there for Goku to lead, that makes Gohan passive, so you aren't helping your point.And to reiterate, Gohan is not the lead.
One of your examples is Frodo! He has a goal, he's the main character, and he does make active choices that affect the outcome of the story.Did I gave you the impression that I don't know what a passive character is?
I could start asking if you wouldn't think the term reactive would be more appropriate since passive and reactive aren't exactly the same thing, but damn didn't I want this discussion to branch out further, because I got the gist of your post
Okay, if you think reactive is more appropriate, what's the distinction between passive and reactive?