Yes, exactly what you said. My favourite kind of fanfic for pairings I ship is usually "first time"...but if I analyze it, that's because I love the progression of -friendship- and I love the final culmination into the first kiss (or sex) as a symbol of finally satisfying the conditions for a happy couple.

It's much harder to find a symbol of this success for a platonic couple -- you need a plot and everything. My absolute favourite stories, the ones that stay with me longest, are usually the ones that manage to do that. Show that the relationship culminated into something wonderful without the sexual expression being the highest peak of emotion, so to speak.

That said, I like both, I just wish that the friendship story got more attention, both on TV and off.

We need moar smarm fics!