Kit
Maester
I think people value relationships more than, necessarily, romance. A relationship doesn't have to be romantic. Look at, for example, the TV show Supernatural. The primary relationship in that show is between two brothers. Not that half the fandom doesn't choose to interpret that as romantic, but the fact is, the show does fine without any long-lasting romances (indeed, the only recurring romances, one for each brother, were received poorly by the fans). People enjoy strong friendships, parental bonds, sibling bonds, and other sorts of romantic bonds (such as pre-established couples),
One aspect of this that we see in fantasy fiction so often that it's now cliche is the familar (by any other name). Anne McCaffrey's dragons and fire lizards, Misty Lackey's Companions, Jennifer Roberson's lirs, Gayle Greeno's Ghattis... on and on. People eat it up... they want that lifelong unconditional love bond.