it just means that the vision of the writers does'nt match up with the desires of certain members of the audience, which is something that is to be expected with *any* fictional series when it comes to devoloping their characters and stories. If romantic Mariner/Boimler is a valid creative choice (and it is), is'nt non-romantic Mariner/Boimler equally as valid a creative choice?

Surely there must be a way to make both groups happy.

(but for what it's worth I 100 percent get where your coming from and I do sympathize even if I don't see the issue that you do; there are certainly characters - including within Star Trek - who I wish had become a couple but did'nt)

The problem here is with the writing. The writers specifically put these characters in situations that would hint at something more between the two. Like I said in my original post, the writers raised these questions themselves and offered unsatisfying answers. They mislead the audience, whether it was intentional or not.

But you're right about Star Trek being generally unlucky when it comes to romance and fan-favorite pairings: Garak and Bashir, and Janeway and Chakotay come to mind.