We definitely share a brain when it comes to shipping :D you make many good points! Canon writers are indeed more restrained by the already established ship progress, and also a part of it for me is that if some pair's potential has already been well explored on screen, it doesn't leave me hungry for more. They already got together, so what's there to see anymore. It's those ships that have a ton of untapped potential that captivate me to no end. Aw this conversation made me miss reading fanfiction. I just never have the time these days, but it was so much fun back in the day! I even tried writing some, but I'm pretty sure mine was all badfic :p