I agree about the push with Carol. I don't hate her Captain Marvel, (though I enjoyed her more in her Ms. Marvel days) but at times the need to push her to the front feels very forced.

If you want a strong female character who deserves Avenger leadership and to be near the front of the line than look no further than the Wasp. I mean Janet Van Dyne of 616. Look at how she started and where she is now. Janet IMO is one of the greatest female Avenger because her evolution was natural over the course of time. She's earned it all through the good times and the bad times. You don't need to be super powerful to be a well written and engaging female character. Janet is fun, plays off well with the characters around her, and is an all around great female superhero who deserves more respect and attention than Marvel gives her.