[Inziladun]

Peregrin Took, we seem to mostly agree here. Pippin's being called "Prince of the Halflings" likely was in large part due to his apparent friendship with Gandalf and his audience with Denethor. I was simply positing that the atmosphere of anxiety in Minas Tirith contributed to that initial perception of him as a leader of Halflings who would help Gondor with armed force. Had they not been on the brink of war, I wonder if they would have been so quick to make that assumption. As you say, by Pippin's physical appearance alone many would laugh or take Beregond's view. But in their desperate situation they would certainly have taken all the help they could get, and I doubt they would have laughed if they really had been offered five thousand swords, Halflings or not.
Mansun's original post seemed to suggest that it was Pippin's "warrior" status that was the reason for the title Pippin was initially given by some of the people. I was disagreeing with that premise and putting forth other explanations, as you did also.