Maybe since it's been so long since we've had live-action episodic Trek people still don't get that the show does a little bit of everything? Each episode is different and not really "building" to anything. So a fun, romcom, one isn't really a waste as they weren't automatically doing anything else with it anyway.
And it was a great character study. Also I like the Vulcans, so I like it that we get to see more of their culture. I guess "world building" is still the term, even if it's multiple worlds in the Federation. I like seeing how "real" the cultures are in Trek. They all have histories and traditions.
10 tense space battle standoffs a year would be too much, not to mention a budget drain. Even the new shows need to save money and do what is essentially a bottle episode every now and then. It was all on the ship, the shuttle, and the big virtual-reality room for the alien encounter.
Also it's creepy that some people here can't stand even one episode being dominated by female characters. 1 out the 15 or so that have aired so far. 1 out of the hundreds of Trek episodes that have aired since the 60w. That's it, just 1 and it's already 1 too many for you? Tell me you hate women without telling me.
Actually don't bother telling me cause I've blocked them. LOL