  We study radius stabilization in the Randall-Sundrum model without assuming
any unnaturally large stabilizing scalar potential parameter at the boundary
branes ($\gamma$) by the frequently used superpotential method. Employing a
perturbative expansion in $1/\gamma^2$ and the backreaction parameter, we
obtain approximate analytical expressions for the radion mass and wavefunction.
We validate them through a dedicated numerical analysis, which solves the
linearized coupled scalar and metric field equations exactly. It is observed
that the radion mass decreases with decreasing $\gamma$. Below a critical value
of $\gamma$, the radion becomes tachyonic, suggesting destabilization of the
extra dimension. We also address the issue of non-Hermiticity of the
differential operator that determines the radion and Kaluza-Klein (KK) mode
wavefunctions in the finite $\gamma$ limit. It is accomplished by finding an
explicit form of the general scalar product that re-establishes the
orthogonality in the KK decomposition.
