...hm, perhaps I should have provided my own salt for the taking with my post...
Ah well.
As for 'special', some might call it 'unique character traits' or some other label but, in lieu of the manga: Not many humans could have done what Tsukune has done so far. Tropes and Plot Armor/Hax/etc aside, even among the 'nice guy/harem hero' protags, Tsukune stands out in a positive way. Pick any 'Joe' off the street and there's little chance that many would have gotten past the 2nd day in Youkai Gakuen. It doesn't make them pathetic; just that they weren't lucky/ready/able to adjust.
I mean by humanity as being pathetic is that when left to a mob mentality, more than likely, humanity will choose the easier, less intrusive, passive way out until forced into a corner where doing either option will result in death.