I remember when Q brought in Riker for a cameo in VOY, to testify, or some such about some other Q who affected his life some way, Janeway just about dropped an egg, she was so smitten with Riker, instantly. As absurd as the whole thing was, it was worth it just to see her swooning over him, it was kind of "cute," actually.
But Jonathan Frakes' involvement could've been so much more meaningful and impactful and well-thought out, but it always comes back to these shitty-assed writers who deliver episodes like this, in part, because they're under "pressure," but mostly because they're no-talent hacks who just got lucky. TATV, interestingly enough, didn't suffer from any of that, it was just a whimsical episode, as noted. And I wouldn't try to twist anyone's arm into agreeing with me that it's not as bad as people say, or to enjoy it, as much as I. Its shortcomings are apparent.
Still in all, there's quite a bit of that in STAR TREK. Even a Classic like "City on the Edge of Forever" has to be "forgiven" to a certain extent, in order to be "believable." Or "The Voyage Home," with the incredible assertion that the power of the Humback Whale's song is such that it can penetrate lightyears at warp speed, to chat up probes from another Galaxy. These cetaceans are not only Man's equal ... they are his superior! And this movie was so handsomely rewarded that Leonard Nimoy could never stop bragging about it. But that's STAR TREK for you ...