That is true. But I guess they've done such a good job writing her character that some(Like me) form an attachment that goes way beyond what is expected of characters in a children's cartoon.
But seriously, I have NO problem with gags and funny bits at Frankie's expense--I loved the smear song in "Setting A President"(Though I've personally rewritten it to praise her and attack Herriman
)--and I don't mind seeing her misery played for laughs as long as she gets some measure of vengeance or catharsis in the end, like in "Busted" and "Crime After Crime".