I don't think protagonists always need to do the smart or logical thing. What if that thing doesn't fit their personality?
You're confusing logical with rational. Rational is doing the thing that maximizes your profits or benefits, AKA 'the smart thing'. Logical means doing what is consistent and follows from predefined stipulations...AKA what follows from your personality. Illogical characters who aren't made to be crazy are impossible to relate to, because all of us are mostly tremendously logical in our own ways.
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Twostuck, Homestuck RPG: http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/8-gamefaqs-contests/62168402