Jenningsbryan1896
To try and actually engage with you on this topic, here are some of my thoughts:
but the more I play the more I am utterly convinced that Qum is irritating
I had the exact opposite reaction to Qum. Initially I found her extremely troubling. As time goes on, you can see she is brilliant in her own way. She helps Robin dismantle a seal in the cave system between Stineford and Yhilin, by casting a highly complex spell perfectly on her first try, something two other mages failed spectacularly at. It is very possible that they would all have died in that cave if Qum was unable to assist Robin in dismantling the seal. Everyone has their own strengths. This scene shows this perfectly, and was the moment Qum turned around for me personally.
Let's put this in perspective.
Qum's mind does not work in a way that this is a helpful way to approach her as a character. If you can only view her this way, you won't ever see her, or anyone with her sort of unique strengths, in a positive light.
I'll also mention her "research," which asks Simon to take important resources from the previously mentioned world-saving journey to do nothing but create a drug that makes the afflicted follow her ridiculous speech patterns. How productive.
It is actually productive though? It helps attain the best results for this event IIRC.
And please don't try to sell me on how "she's smart in her own way," she has lines in game where she claims she's stupid.
This is countered elsewhere, but I'll add that "I don't like this argument so don't use it with me" is a bad argument.