I was, and remain to this day, incredibly, incredibly JEALOUS of Gillian Taylor! She got so lucky getting plucked out of her time and brought to the 23rd Century!
Harve Bennett and Leonard Nimoy, I'd imagine, but I'd have to dig out my old Cinefantastiques to be sure. ^^ And this is pretty much why they decided to go the other way with it. It was pure fan wish fulfillment.
How about anyone's opinion about God in the movie? Or what about Faith or beliefs? Everything in the movie doesn't tackle or touch upon what the movie represented. IV was well thought out in allowing the characters to realize and appreciate the role a species have on the planet. I didn't get any sort of illumination from Shatner's bad film, but Gillian was a character I liked, in the same way I liked Kirstie Alley; I would've liked to see more of her in those movies.