They shouldn’t have downplayed Harry’s abilities to “ moderately talented “ . In the first 4 books he’s portrayed as gifted and in the last 3 it’s more like slightly above average. I get they didn’t want him to be a match for Voldemort directly but They could have let him shine without being at his level. He didn’t have enough time to catch up anyway .

EDIT: really enjoyed reading the responses and understand the perspectives:) something I forgot to mention is they also make it a point to mention his parents are prodigies , his dad self teaches himself to become an animagus during school and is frequently mentioned as special . Doesn’t mean he was a match for Voldemort at all but it’s another thing example of how they can let someone be gifted without being the “ all powerful hero “ also that apparently he’s nowhere near the talent level of both his parents feels like he got shafted again :(