There's another perspective too as one goes along in life: it is more interesing for protagoinists to be interesting and plausible than likeable. A really terrific character can be someone who isn't like you, who you don't like, who you do not identify with. I love those characters now. I didn't used to, though, or understand the difference -- and I was a grad lit student even!

Also, plots about who ends up with who aren't as interesting any longer once one is ended up. Or maybe that is just me?

I recall after my first novel came out a much younger friend was in the process of reading it and she called me up begging me to tell her if the protagonists ended with blahblahblah -- I answered, "She doesn't end up with anybody. That's not her destiny." My friend got very angry! :) She did read to the end though, and liked the ending after all, though she said she was glad she'd been warned.

Love, C.