As much as people want to complain how DOCTOR WHO writers have never known how to write for women, they certainly didn't know how to write for men, either. We had a long run of male companions who were really good, both smart and resourceful. Then we had Harry, who was a doctor by training, but turned quickly into comic relief and a buffoon (which is slightly better than a doctor in training who quickly becomes a doe-eyed fangirl). After that, we got Adric, who was a whiny know-it-all, and Turlough, who was a useless wimp. The closest we would get to a decent male companion was Glitz, who only appeared twice, but would have made a better companion than Peri or Mel.
I just never liked Adric. Even going back and re-watching the episodes, he just comes off as juvenile. All through "Earthshock", he just sits and pouts and fights with The Doctor. I still tear up when he dies, because it was powerful for the show, and as ant-mac pointed out, the "deaths" we get now don't have the gravitas because they get retconned quickly (I can't say much, because I have a scenario written out for my idea to bring River Song back, so I'm just as bad).
And I also liked the idea that she may be related to Barbara Wright too! 