I see Trip and T'Pol as: Look! See, one is emotional and one isn't. Isn't that cool?! I think the opening Decon scene kinda sums up the relationship for me -- titilation and nothing more.
OK, if that's how you see it, then that's how you see it. But I strongly disagree with the
"one is emotional and one isn't" part.
While Trip certainly is hyper-emotional, T'Pol (just as any other Vulcan) is far from emotionless.
And you mention "titilation." Well, that's a little unfair. Sure, Connor and Jolene were two of the most attractive cast members (judging by preferences on this board and some others), but the thing TnT had going in "Breaking the Ice" was everything but titilation. Of course, this whole neuropressure thing was a little over the top, but episodes like "The Forgotten" show that there was true understanding and trust between the two.
I saw John and Aeryn actually as a lot alike with a lot of subtleties and nuances that made the pair interesting as well as plausible. And we come to find out in the series that in fact, they're a lot more alike than different (Peace Keepers and humans are related).
I don't think that J&A were much more similar initially than TnT were.
John Crichton was this astronaut, a scientist, charming, funny, and a loudmouth (in a good way). A genuine good guy with only the best intentions and healthy (though somewhat boyish) enthusiasm.
Aeryn Sun, on the other hand, was this by-the-book soldier, aggressive, dismissive, racist (pretty much a Nazi, who betrayed the only man she had feelings for before John and gotten him killed, just for the sake of her career). Eventually, she grew a heart, not just thanks to John, but to others on Moya as well. At the same time, somewhere along the way, John [de]volved into a bona fide action hero.
Besides John was never like Trip. He was funnier and more commanding with snappier one liners. Trip could've been more like John, but got derailed. (See my thread about Trip.)
I don't like the idea of Trip becoming a Crichton clone (two Johns were enough, a third would have been a nuisance
).
Just for comparison, I doubt John would've ever allowed Aeryn to marry, like Trip did with T'Pol in "Home." John would have kicked the 'dren' out of Koss.
I like both Trip and Crichton the same, for what they were. But I also liked J&A for what they were, while I liked TnT for what they could have become. But the writers on Farscape had the 'mojo,' and guys on ENT lacked it.
I also think whatever relationship happens deserves little on screen time. The writers couldn't handle mature writing, so tended to be a little juvenile, which hurt the relationship. That goes for Reed/guy, which I thought would've been interesting for Star Trek to attempt.
You mean, Read/Hays? Well, never having a gay couple on (post TOS) Trek is something you have
Rick Berman, our resident homophobe, to thank for.
Here's what
Andy Mangels said about this:
"Berman was ultimately responsible for killing almost every pitch for gay characters, and in interviews, was mealy-mouthed and waffling about the need for GLB T representation. At the very least, he was gutless and didn't care about GLBT representation. From the information and evidence I've seen, heard, and read, I believe that Berman is the reason we never saw gays on Star Trek I shed no tears that he's gone, except that he did his best to ruin the franchise on his way out.”
[sorry for going off topic here, couldn't resist, Berman bashing is one of my favorite sports]
). 
