Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
--Lord Alfred Tennyson--
Yep. I prefer Constantine as a con man/trickster whose knowledge of magic and the occult out weighs his actual ability. Constantine just works better as a scrappy underdog rather than some all powerful magic welder type like Dr Fate.
Part of the appeal of the Vertigo Hellblazer was seeing John Constantine lie, cheat, scheme and steal his way to victory against impossible odds that usually came at some terrible personal price to him.
Constantine prides himself on being a manipulative jerk and a horrible human being. He's not a good pairing with ANYONE.