Are detailed sex scenes a bad thing for the story? .

I'm not really impressed with the romances in general. Back in ME1 it was novel to me and they felt kind of immersive. I liked it for the novelty. Since then, they feel really more on the why bother side. I did a peebee one and was so unimpressed it was actually depressing (almost). I felt like I compromised who my character was in the game out of curiosity. And regretted it for being stuck with an emotional 13 year old. The sex scene, so not worth it to me personally. Reminded me of some kind of real life scenario. But in terms of looking at the romances critically and seeing how they have evolved from game to game, I have to wonder if people really get anything fulfilling out of them. After all, we RP for that feeling of immersion. This game, it feels like some flirts then you have sex. Zero immersion for me because I like that sense of getting to know someone, feeling that connection. It was more like a shitty porn from my perspective. And if that money could go for something better, I would think it would be well worth it. ME1 didn't really show that much more and it was more compelling. I got to know Liara a bit more. Not much. But I felt like I had some conversations with her. I played femshep and felt like Kaidan's was better in that respect since Liara really doesn't give you as many conversations. 

I know there are people that still enjoy them and I would not want the to lose something they love that they don't get elsewhere. But I have to wonder if even they have noticed how they seem to be written lazier and lazier as time passes for each game we get. For straight women, I feel truly bad. They got some shit-tastic choices this round. Liam who sounds like he has marbles in his mouth and is kind of a crisis in motion and Jaal who, I am sorry to say this, but those chest flaps and those legs, no. Just no. Angara are the most ridiculous looking race I have ever seen. Someone was high when they made that concept. High out of their minds. For sure.

I'm not really impressed with the romances in general. Back in ME1 it was novel to me and they felt kind of immersive. I liked it for the novelty. Since then, they feel really more on the why bother side. I did a peebee one and was so unimpressed it was actually depressing (almost). I felt like I compromised who my character was in the game out of curiosity. And regretted it for being stuck with an emotional 13 year old. The sex scene, so not worth it to me personally. Reminded me of some kind of real life scenario. But in terms of looking at the romances critically and seeing how they have evolved from game to game, I have to wonder if people really get anything fulfilling out of them. After all, we RP for that feeling of immersion. This game, it feels like some flirts then you have sex. Zero immersion for me because I like that sense of getting to know someone, feeling that connection. It was more like a shitty porn from my perspective. And if that money could go for something better, I would think it would be well worth it. ME1 didn't really show that much more and it was more compelling. I got to know Liara a bit more. Not much. But I felt like I had some conversations with her. I played femshep and felt like Kaidan's was better in that respect since Liara really doesn't give you as many conversations. 

I know there are people that still enjoy them and I would not want the to lose something they love that they don't get elsewhere. But I have to wonder if even they have noticed how they seem to be written lazier and lazier as time passes for each game we get. For straight women, I feel truly bad. They got some shit-tastic choices this round. Liam who sounds like he has marbles in his mouth and is kind of a crisis in motion and Jaal who, I am sorry to say this, but those chest flaps and those legs, no. Just no. Angara are the most ridiculous looking race I have ever seen. Someone was high when they made that concept. High out of their minds. For sure.

See, romances are much more interesting when they are about the characters.  Romances are opportunities to delver further into who they are and what motivates them, of bringing your character and the LI closer together emotionally.

They shouldn't be  about just getting through dialogue, hitting the Flirt options so we can get into their virtual pants.

I mostly agree - but there's one issue I have with the bolded.

There have been times when the only way for the PC to develop a close bond with a character is by engaging the romance, and that's a problem imho. I've seen quite a few forum discussions about things that LIs only reveal if romanced. In some cases, that might be very realistic and appropriate, in other cases I think they just didn't provide much in the way of a friendship path with the NPC.

Garrus and Jacob are on opposite ends of that spectrum. Garrus is always keen to be best buds with Shepard, with or without romancing him, and femShep can't talk to Jacob without going into sultry flirt mode.

So - I guess what I'm saying is, sure, let's have some extra pillow talk with a romanced LI but let's not deprive the non-romanced version of opportunities for closeness.