You're right of course. Dejah Thoris mostly is the damsel in distress, and the prize for Johnny-boy. Only in the first book is the pro-active in the plot. While she does get captured, usually there is some sort of fight, and Carter often comments on how savage she can be while in battle... but she always loses. So there's that. I guess because she's the first Barsoom lady, people gravitate to her more. Not many people read beyond the first story, so don't know much about Thuvia and Tara - who are the better female choices IMO (even if they aren't much better than being capture-bait). BUT yes. Burrough describes red martians as wearing adornments and always caring a weapon, and also describes Dejah Thoris as being so hot that everyone wants her. So the depiction that Frazetta and others do is somewhat accurate, only she never was a tall, busty woman like most pictures make her.