Greatest X ever?

I mean for me personally...it depends on what the story is doing. If the game is telling me my mission is to do something considered utterly impossible, like the Suicide Mission, then sure, give me the absolute best, because I would want my character to take it seriously enough to not accept anything less to ensure both survival and success. For the most part however, I wouldn't want the greatest in the world to be my normal line up, because then if you ever lose in gameplay, due to story/gameplay segregation, it feels utterly ridiculous, like Jack's cutscene OPness as a prime example. It also makes you having a down narrative moment, Virmire for example, feel more authentic. Because your guys aren't walking death machines. They have limits, and are going to get overwhelmed. If my party consists of the greatest, most talented people in the entire "world". the idea of losing is utterly ridiculous from a narrative perspective...unless your dealing with a Godlike entity.

Some characters fit their backgrounds better than others. Kaidan for example is supposed to be strong, but not overpowered. I feel he fits that bill in ME1. He has a ton of great utility. Likewise in ME3.

In ME2, I felt several of the characters didn't match their profiles all that well. Jack is terrible. On top of this, she gets a shotgun despite being squishy. She's not much better with a pistol, but at least she doesn't charge in like a dummy. Miranda brags about her skills, but she is mainly just a debuffing character (though I suppose it works for her because she's not as perfect as she claims). I also never found Samara to be a particularly strong squadmate either despite being a 1,000 year old biotic justice asari.

In Andromeda, Cora was the best squadmate so I didn't mind her talking about biotics and the asari so much. Plus, she cut it out after her loyalty mission. She is also my favorite romance in the series despite how blasphemous that may sound. So she's good in my book. Drack on the other hand is supposed to be a 1,400 year old grizzled war veteran and he handles himself like an idiot on the battlefield. I use the other characters very sparingly, but none of them really impressed me enough to keep using them. 

To answer the topic, I suppose I prefer someone who is well rounded, functions well in combat, and can provide support regardless of what class I play.

I didn't like Cora as her best ability was the shield thing and she was never anywhere near me when she used it, she was always charging somewhere to get killed. And I did my best to make sure no one could detonate combos as theirs were just far worse than mine and far too often they would steal a prime away from my characters detonation. I actually liked drak ad peebee for fights, though i removed detonator options from them.  Drak was a idiot but he got peoples attention allowing me to run around more freely. And peebees lift was sort of useful because I could detonate it.

I'm sure its good but the effect is too subtle for me to notice on my rig, some dude floating I see that.

This is kind of the problem with Cora. Early game she is kind of terrible. Mid-game she is okay. Post-loyalty mission with Cryo Ammo she becomes very good. But by that point you may have already decided she sucks and so do not take her again with Cryo Ammo equipped. Plus it can take a while before you can actually get her loyalty mission, which means she is not good for a long time.

Contrast that with Peebee who can get Pull very early which is very noticeable and useful, and both Invasion and Shockwave are not too bad on her. Peebee's usefulness is more apparent early, especially on Insanity. It takes a while for Cora to get in that good spot. Of course by the time Cora gets good, you are streamrolling everything yourself as Ryder and all of your squadmates are just kind of... there.

Sh tends to stay near me when I'm fighting architects or at least close enough that her powers make a diffrence maybe it depends on what difficulty you play on though I don' t know as I play on Casual

Different experience for me. Peebee disrupts the availability of charge targets, so most of the times I can't take her with my Vanguard/Adept hybrid, which is my favorite playstyle. So I usually only take her, when I want to play a different style or think it would be fun story wise. I only say 'radioactive Volus' when you take her and Drack to Khi Tasira.

The problem there is Cora is always on my team, especially since she is second in command, I like her dialogue in the not Mako, and she is the character I romance. So its usually either Drack or Vetra who join us. 

I am genuinely curious. Can you explain how Peebee disrupts the availability of charge targets when you play? I do not believe that was my experience in my two biotic-focused playthroughs, but that was some time ago.

I'm in the "blasphemy-boat" regarding Cora as well.

Asides from being my favorite romance, I find her Charge to be useful due to it shows me where the enemies are that much quicker. In open combat, every second counts.
I find she synergizes well with Vetra, especially with both their ammo upgrades.
Nothing like walking into a kett base and seeing lightning and snow everywhere.
Considering I have a preference for fire abilities out of the "big three", it's poetry.

Also, the only thing better than Biotic Charge is two of them.

It's definitely a thing with Peebee in the party. If you haven't run into it yet - lucky you. Just one description: answers.ea.com/t5/Mass-Effect-Andromeda/Biotic-charge-not-triggering-correctly/td-p/5951331

I would prefer squadmates that are above average but with room to improve. Also want a Batarian squadmate already