I wasn't talking about cheating? A famous example of a character people consider a Mary Sue is Superman because occasionally he is written to have whatever power is convenient to the plot and rarely loses, which is why Death of Superman became such an impactful comic because Superman could actually lose and it played out consequences. But that doesn't mean Superman is a bad character, he is a classic for a reason.
But generally it is easier to empathize with characters who are not perfect, but that isn't a hard rule. Any trope can be done well with enough care. So in wanting companions I would not want Perfect people who are flawless in every way and instead more nuanced characters, with some kind of flaw or goal they need to overcome.
