Although I'm not fond of their romance, I could have accepted to see them romantically linked (
in spite of the too obvious age gap ;
inspite of the relationship of subordination, which would have stopped Chakotay to accept Seven's advances*;
inspite of different emotional expectations:
for Seven, this "relatiosnhip" was an unknown but necessary step to pursue the recovering of her humanity and
for Chakotay, besides soothing his ego, this "relationship" allows him to dream in a future more radiant than the one which was outlined in front of him), IF:
1) this relationship had been well presented (in style of Tom/B'Elena's romance, which took almost 1/2 season to become a reality),
2) well played (as much Beltran made the Beltran with an acting which was as blank as usual, as much Ryan, who had accustomed us in a good performance since the beginning, whatever her scenes, was the shadow of her former self in her love scenes with Beltran but even on all the 2 episodes of Endgame, as if she didn't feel concerned anymore -> come on, look at Mulgrew/Beltran scenes of flirting through just 1 or 2 scenes (even if I'm delighted that it was not farther between their characters!) and/or Tom/B'Elena together in one episode when they began to date and compare to Ryan/Beltran scenes of courtship in Endgame (even if Seven is novice in this domain, Chakotay doesn't sound too excited and confident while Seven exactly expects to be guided in this exercice!) -> they behave as 2 fishes lost in the water (even if actors were uncomfortable by the sudden & supposed closeness of their characters who were at the 2nd date, they - in particular Ryan! - didn't know how to hide it and viewers felt it to the point that it was so awkward to watch! And since almost no one paid very much attention to the beginning of their "supposed" love story, because it was just NOT credible, how to believe that their love will be big and beautiful to the point that after Seven's death, Chakotay will be completly destroyed?!

=> honestly, I shall never stop thanking enough the authors for having saved us to see these scenes!
As for "Natural Law" to which some of you made a reference, I'd say that for me, this episode marks for maybe the first and only time, where Chakotay and Seven had a true working relationship (until then, they spent their time to say through a third party, how little respect they had of each other through of course, their own vocabulary and/or body language, and that although their respective position on Voyager!), like she had so many time with The Doctor, Tuvok and Janeway. Nothing more.
As for the idea that Chakotay was the only choice aboard for Seven (because he was single, handsome and ready to be chosen, well, maybe BUT it doesn't mean that it was the GOOD choice -> ex: Janeway with Chakotay, B'Elena with Harry...