Well, c'mon... he IS!!!!

Also: 

@Pat D in PA What an exceptional list of highlights from the episode that carry forward and make the show what it is. My favorite of your points, in this last post and others, is that the makings of our Hoss as we know and love him were THERE. I believe they get overshadowed by our gut reactions to the things that are NOT our Hoss, that make him appear to be a fool, which are down to issues that come with being a pilot episode and working out how to express his character correctly. 

Good point, @CareBear.  What, of each of the characterizations, are we glad DIDN'T change after the pilot?   Here are mine: * Adam's snark... and "young or not... he's still a Cartwright!"  Yup... glad that never changed. * Hoss' role as the "pouring oil on troubled waters" middle brother (grin!) * Hop Sing runs the roost.  LMAO * the knowledge that the Cartwrights were actually some of the original environmentalists * Hoss' concerns for the animals (his support of the stallion rather than Adam during the bucking bronc scene toward the beginning. LOL) * Hoss' greater knowledge of the world than this episode gave him credit for, acknowledging that Lotta was, indeed, in United States Territory, but not to trade too much on it.  That's a cannier political statement that the village idiot Hoss would have shared. * Adam's blunt confidence. <grin!> * Adam's quick extrapolation of the facts, followed up with his protectiveness * Ben's solid belief that he'd have riders behind him when they went into VC to rescue Joe * Even Alphaeus Troy knows:  "The way Ben Cartwright loves those sons of his, I don't think he'll refuse." * Joe as a Ladies Man... I mean, c'mon... <grin!> * As @CareBear pointed out, Ben's incredible protective instinct for his boys... "Where is he?! Where's MY SON!?" * Cool as a cucumber Adam... * And Hoss, as always, backing him up * Joe, not only holding his own in a fight, but enjoying just about every minute of it. :-)... and still the cool ladies' man (what I call his "little $hit" energy) * "Next time, Miss Crabtree, pick on a man... not a boy."  BOOyah.... * the Chinese community segment couldn't be done any longer, at least not as originally filmed, but the fun, action-packed roust is redone in a variety of ways over the seasons * Adam and the lady   :-)  Lots to love.                      

Yes, we can't forget the shotgun for added emphasis. Just in case that thunderous tone wasn't taken seriously, you know.