So I started watching this and got 7 episodes in; why is Sayaka such a dumbass?

I'm on episode 8 right now bucko

It's not stupidity, it's bravery. She saw first hand what witches did to people and still went through with it. She decided to fight instead of flee. Hell the first thing she does as a magical girl is save Madoka and Hitomi's lives. It's not her fault the game is rigged.

I saw this gif around quite a bit before watching the show, so when the scene came up I couldn't stop laughing despite it being a really touching scene

Sayaka was morally correct about everything she did.

Put your trip on.

You know what? You convinced me otherwise, she's not a dumbass and in fact her actions lead to a young boy being able to make a name for himself, but it also begs the question of responsibility to yourself. If all you ever do is give and never care for yourself in any capacity, you can't really complain that your life is in shambles when you find out others aren't so dedicated to returning the favor.

She has the emotional consistency of avocado.

yes

Literally all the MCs are dumb little girls who make mistakes but redeem themselves for resons. Only Sayaka does not get the chance to redeem herself because an autistic author thinks that this character has to die horribly.

but she was factually wrong