In some ways, I think this is an area where fandom itself makes a difference. Because so much thought and analysis goes into the various characters and especially as these are often "series" stories where the conversations are going on while the story is developing, there's a deeper investment. So I think a big change, like a romance, is felt to need a bigger sell by the audience. Whereas the author or creator of this non-romance based world, sort of feels like the sell doesn't need to be that hard. Does that make sense?

I don't think the audience's request for a harder sell is a bad thing, necessarily. Anything that demands a better told tale is good. But I think sometimes it means fans are asking for something almost unrealistically detailed. They're not allowing the story to flow. Or, maybe more accurately, by predicting the story is going to flow in one direction and arguing that view point against others, instead of just allowing the story flow, they need an actual argument for this choice specifically lined up against another story-telling choice. Which, that's not how stories are told.

Heh. I'm not sure I'm making sense at all, but I'll send it on through. ;)