I've never been a fan of the Deanna/Will pairing either, since it felt more like a part of their backstory than anything that was really happening, and they refused to do anything with it until the 11th hour anyway, when it was pointless for the series.
Exactly. Were they even ever dating during TNG? I could buy that they were once lovers and that that spark was still there between them, but I don't feel it was all that entertaining of a relationship. Riker, when not arguing with Jellico or getting upset with Ro, is a pretty chill guy, and has a calming way about him. Troi is very patient and somewhat soft spoken or delicate in the way she speaks. Together, although they're nice, they lack an on-screen romance.
I thought Deanna/Worf worked on screen, with their characters and everything.
I totally get the criticisms of them together. Empathetic, sensual, and delicate Troi, dating stiff, stoic, emotionally repressive, simplistic warrior Worf? What's there in common.
However, I can see them developing a closeness due to Alexander. That right there makes them closer in some ways, in that they're helping to raise a child, whereas there's nothing like that with Riker and her.
Had they been able to develop Worf further, in a particular way, I think it would not only be very convincing, but a good storyline.
I've already said that there's no way Troi would put up with Worf ditching his duty to exact revenge, or getting so caught up in the homeworld's honor-politics. But had they gradually shown Worf changing as a result of both his human upbringing, and his time on the Enterprise, I could see it. Worf's whole outlook is based around his idealized interpretation of Klingon warrior culture. It's who he is. In the first season he actually contemplates helping those two rogue Klingons. A few years later though, he does a very un-Klingon thing as spares Duras's heir. And even later, when he's asked what would happen if he saw that his father was captured alive and living as a pet-citizen of the Romulans, instead of being ashamed, he said he would be happy to at least see his father once more. Season 1 Worf would have never said that. So he definitely displayed an evolution in his thinking and beliefs. And I think that's what would have made Worf more appealing in Troi's eyes. He's more "alpha" than Riker, more of a challenge as far as his personality goes, and yet, his growth would probably make him seem much more mature to Troi. And I could envision a storyline where Worf is once again caught up in Klingon dirty politics, but he has to make a choice for not only Troi, but more importantly for himself, as to whether he'll continue to let the Kronos society dictate who he is as a person. He could even face prejudice from his Klingon peers for choosing to be with a Betazoid instead of a proper Klingon woman, and that he was losing his Klingon identity. Alexander was already corrupted by his mother's half-human influence, and now, due to Troi's influence, and Worf's softening nature, Alexander is a lost cause as far as going down the "warrior's path." Maybe even Kurn would chastise Worf for all of this. The House of Mogh has come back from the brink, is finally establishing itself as the noble house it once was, and Worf is squandering this legacy, with his choice of mate, his allegiance to Starfleet, and the way he's raising Alexander.
What could have been...